SoftBank is going big in France. Really big.
The Japanese conglomerate just announced plans to spend up to €75 billion — that’s roughly $87 billion — on expanding data center capacity across France. The goal is to develop and operate up to 5 gigawatts of additional capacity, with the first phase delivering 3.1 gigawatts to the Hauts-de-France region by 2031.
The locations aren’t random. Three sites in Dunkirk (Loon-Plage), Bosquel, and Bouchain will anchor the initial rollout. That’s a serious commitment to a single region, and it signals something deeper than just building server farms. French Economic Minister Roland Lescure called it “a testament to President Emmanuel Macron’s ambition to position France as a leading destination all along the AI value chain.”
The quote is glowing, of course. Ministers say things like that. But let’s look at what’s actually happening here.
SoftBank has a unique position in the AI ecosystem. It’s both an investor in and customer of OpenAI. That dual role means the company has a vested interest in making sure AI infrastructure keeps pace with demand. Building out capacity in Europe isn’t just about serving European customers — it’s about locking in supply chains and positioning itself as the go-to infrastructure partner for the next generation of AI companies.
This is now SoftBank’s largest AI infrastructure investment in Europe. That’s not a small thing to say out loud.
Here’s where it gets interesting. While France rolls out the welcome mat, the United States is seeing growing pushback against data center construction. Environmental concerns, electrical grid strain, and questions about utility price impacts are all fueling opposition. Even so, SoftBank has already announced plans to build a data center in Ohio, powered by a new 9.2 gigawatt natural gas plant.
So you have two quite different approaches forming. Europe is making aggressive plays to attract AI infrastructure. The US is grappling with the trade-offs of that same infrastructure.
Which strategy wins out? That’s the wrong question, actually. The more interesting angle is how these regions will coexist and compete as AI demand keeps climbing. France is betting that being a hub now pays off later. The US is still figuring out whether the juice is worth the squeeze.
What seems clear is that SoftBank isn’t waiting around to find out. They’re planting flags on both sides of the Atlantic, spending heavily, and hoping the returns justify the risk. Given how fast the AI industry moves, they probably don’t have much choice.
