SoftBank to build up AI data centres in France with major investment
The first phase includes €45 billion for 3.1 gigawatts of capacity by 2031, with Schneider Electric as a partner in Dunkirk.
- On Saturday, SoftBank Group announced plans to invest up to €75 billion in France to build 5 gigawatts of artificial intelligence data center capacity, positioning the country as a top European hub.
- Personal diplomacy between SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son and President Emmanuel Macron drove the commitment, with Son stating that France's energy production is "absolutely decisive for investments in AI infrastructure."
- The first phase comprises an initial €45 billion investment to deliver 3.1 gigawatts of capacity in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031, with partner Schneider Electric developing sites in Dunkirk, Bosquel, and Bouchain.
- Officials will formally announce the investment on Monday at the annual Choose France summit, which French economic minister Roland Lescure called a "testament to President Emmanuel Macron's ambition" in the AI value chain.
- This project expands SoftBank's global AI infrastructure efforts, which include a $500 billion Stargate initiative in the United States and more than $60 billion invested in OpenAI for approximately 13% stake.
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France is planning record investments in data centers with softbank and other partners. Nuclear energy is to secure stable power supply for digital infrastructure. France wants to become a leader in AI applications in Europe.
SoftBank to invest €75bn in France to help expand its AI sector
The project is SoftBank Group's largest AI infrastructure investment in Europe. Once completed, its planned 5 GW capacity would make it Europe's largest data centre project as the region seeks to expand AI infrastructure and compete with the US and Asia.
SoftBank invests 75 billion euros in French AI data centers – Europe's largest AI bet. While Macron scores with nuclear power and speed, Germany sleeps the infrastructure revolution.
If the technological giant SoftBank has announced a record investment of 75 billion euros in the country in the framework of Choose France, 45 billion will be invested by 2031 in the Hauts-de-France. It will be "infrastructures linked to artificial intelligence".
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