SoftBank Group Corp (SoftBank), a Japanese multinational investment holding company, has committed to building and operating 5 GW of AI data center capacity in France, in a project the company values at €75 billion (US$ 87 billion). The first phase, comprising an initial €45 billion investment to deliver 3.1 GW of AI data center capacity in the Hauts-de-France region, is part of the 2026 Choose France summit hosted by President Emmanuel Macron.
In a press release, SoftBank explained that the first phase includes plans to deliver data centers in Dunkirk (Loon-Plage), Bosquel and Bouchain. SoftBank Group also plans to develop additional sites across France. The data centers will serve demand from AI developers, cloud providers, enterprises, public institutions and research organizations.
Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO, SoftBank Group Corp., said, “AI is entering a new era, and the countries that build the infrastructure for this transformation will shape the future of technology, industry and society. With its industrial capabilities, talent base and national ambition, France is uniquely positioned to become a leading AI infrastructure hub in Europe.”
The French government framed the investment as part of its broader push to position the country as a key player across the AI value chain. Readers will recall that French senators had previously proposed an amendment to an existing legislation surrounding the establishment of data centers in the country. The amendment obliged the government to submit reports to the Parliament that allow certain data centers to be classified as projects of Major National Interest (PINM). This designation would speed up procedures, including compatibility with town planning documents, electricity network connections, and recognition of imperative reasons of major public interest (RIIPM).
“SoftBank’s decision to invest massively in AI data centers in France – a first for the group in Europe – is testament to President Emmanuel Macron’s ambition to position France as a leading destination all along the AI value chain,” said Roland Lescure, Minister of Economy, Finance, Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty. “It reflects our country’s substantial assets: fast access to the most reliable electrical grid in Europe, a strong digital and industrial ecosystem with a skilled workforce, and a government that works in unison with local authorities and stakeholders to fast track procedures for strategic projects.”
This investment is Softbank’s largest AI infrastructure commitment in Europe and intended to support rising demand for computing power as artificial intelligence systems scale. Softbank is not the only AI company that has raised immense capital in France; the country’s homegrown players are also investing heavily in developing AI infrastructure.
In March 2026, Mistral AI, a French generative artificial intelligence (AI) company, has reportedly raised US$ 830 million to buy 13,800 NVIDIA chips for a major data center near Paris. The data center in Bruyeres-le-Chatel is expected to become operational in the second quarter of 2026.
Before that, in November 2025, Ethical Internet Exchange (Etix), a French edge-data-center operator, has announced the launch of ETIX Lille #4, a new facility located at the main telecom hub of the Hauts-de-France region. This is the fourth Lille site, and Etix’s 14th data center in Europe, adds 2 MW of capacity to the local campus. Readers would recall that in October 2025, Etix had secured €170 million ($200m) in financing to support its European expansion.
Mordor Intelligence valued France’s AI data center market at US$ 0.92 billion in 2025. It is projected to reach US$ 1.21 billion in 2026, and US$ 4.64 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 30.99 percent between 2026 and 2031. This growth is driven by expanding generative AI workloads, France’s low-carbon nuclear and renewable energy mix, and public support under the France 2030 program, with over US$ 117 billion committed to new and expanded facilities through 2030.