SoftBank plans up to €75 billion investment in French AI centers
SoftBank Group Corp. plans to invest up to €75 billion in AI data centers in France, aiming to establish the country as a leading European hub for AI infrastructure. The initial phase includes a €45 billion investment to deliver 3.1 gigawatts of capacity by 2031. This investment reflects a personal commitment from French President Emmanuel Macron and SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son to enhance France's economic landscape.
- ▪SoftBank's investment will focus on building 5 gigawatts of AI data center capacity in France.
- ▪The first phase involves an initial €45 billion investment in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031.
- ▪SoftBank's plans include partnerships with companies like Schneider Electric to create AI infrastructure hubs.
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SoftBank Group Corp. plans to invest as much as €75 billion ($87 billion) to build 5 gigawatts of artificial intelligence data center capacity in France, saying the country is poised to become a top European hub for AI infrastructure. Recommended Video The first phase comprises an initial €45 billion investment to deliver 3.1 gigawatts of AI data center capacity in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031, SoftBank said Saturday in a statement. The commitment, which SoftBank called its biggest AI infrastructure investments in Europe, reflect personal diplomacy between Emmanuel Macron and SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son, who met during the French president’s visit to Japan this year. Bloomberg has reported that Son floated the idea of SoftBank investing as much as $100 billion in France.
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