SoftBank Unveils €75 Billion AI Data Center Investment in Hauts-de-France at Choose France Summit

Japanese conglomerate SoftBank has announced a monumental €75 billion investment plan in France, primarily focusing on artificial intelligence infrastructure, with €45 billion dedicated to creating data centers in the Hauts-de-France region. This significant development was unveiled on the eve of the 9th Choose France summit held at the Château de Versailles, an event hosted by President Emmanuel Macron to promote the country's economic attractiveness and draw foreign investment.

SoftBank's initial investment phase targets the deployment of 3.1 gigawatts of data center capacity by 2031, with key locations chosen in Loon-Plage near Dunkerque, Bouchain close to Valenciennes, and the village of Bosquel near Amiens. The Bosquel data center, notably, will be built in partnership with Marseille-based startup Sesterce and will feature a capacity of 1 gigawatt. Ultimately, SoftBank plans to expand across France, aiming to reach a total capacity of 5 gigawatts.

This ambitious project arose following an intensive collaboration spurred by a direct meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son. According to an Élysée advisor, a dedicated team worked swiftly to secure land, obtain properties, and engage industrial partners to realize what has been characterized as the investment of the decade in France.

The timing of this announcement is particularly significant as it coincides with the Choose France summit, which gathered over 200 foreign business leaders and investors, all poised to commit record-level investments into France. However, while the outlook is optimistic, Macron acknowledges the ongoing challenges faced by the French industrial sector, which has struggled over the past two years.

This unprecedented investment highlights France's strategic positioning in the global AI and data infrastructure arena and marks a decisive step in the country's efforts to revitalize its industrial base and economic ecosystem.