SoftBank is investing €75 billion to build 5 gigawatts of AI data centres in France. It's Son's biggest European bet.

This article was published on May 31, 2026 Masayoshi Son was "impressed" by Macron's personal pitch. The deal follows a $500B Ohio project and a $500B Stargate partnership with OpenAI. SoftBank will invest up to €75B ($87B) for 5 GW of AI data centres in France. The first phase delivers 3.1 GW by 2031 for €45B. SoftBank plans to invest as much as €75 billion ($87 billion) to build 5 gigawatts of AI data centre capacity in France. It is the Japanese conglomerate’s biggest AI infrastructure commitment in Europe. CEO Masayoshi Son and President Emmanuel Macron are expected to formally announce the deal at the Choose France Summit this weekend. The first phase comprises €45 billion to deliver 3.1 gigawatts across three sites in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031: Dunkirk, Bosquel, and Bouchain. Schneider Electric will be a strategic partner at the Dunkirk site, creating a hub for AI infrastructure and robotics manufacturing positioned to serve London, Brussels, and Amsterdam. The investment reflects personal diplomacy. Son was “very impressed by the fact that Emmanuel Macron is so personally committed to ensuring France’s economic success,” he told La Tribune. Macron approached Son dir