SoftBank says it will invest up to €75 billion to build French data centers

In Brief Posted: 2:45 PM PDT · May 30, 2026 Anthony Ha SoftBank says it will invest up to €75 billion to build French data centers SoftBank Group announced today that it plans to spend up to €75 billion (around $87 billion) to expand data center capacity in France. The goal, the firm said, is to develop and operate up to 5 gigawatts of additional data center capacity. The first phase of the plan involves building data centers in Dunkirk (Loon-Plage), Bosquel, and Bouchain to deliver 3.1 gigawatts of capacity to the Hauts-de-France region by 2031. SoftBank, which is both an investor in and customer of OpenAI , says this will be its largest AI infrastructure investment in Europe. In a statement, French economic minister Roland Lescure described the announcement as a “testament to President Emmanuel Macron’s ambition to position France as a leading destination all along the AI value chain.” In the United States, opposition to data center construction is heating up over environmental concerns, as well as questions about how data centers affect the electrical grid and utility prices. Nonetheless, SoftBank earlier announced plans to build a data center in Ohio, powered by a new 9.2 gigawatt natural gas plant . Topics AI , Government & Policy , Softbank , Venture June 18 Los Angeles Get an inside look at what it takes to scale and succeed from leaders at Mach Industries, Founders Fund, and Shinkei Systems. Through candid fireside chats and high-impact networking, you'll walk away with valuable insights and new connections. REGISTER NOW Newsletters See More Subscribe for the industry’s biggest tech news TechCrunch Daily News Every weekday and Sunday, you can get the best of TechCrunch’s coverage. TechCrunch Mobility TechCrunch Mobility is your destination for transportation news and insight. Startups Weekly Startups are the core of TechCrunch, so get our best coverage delivered weekly. StrictlyVC Provides movers and shakers with the info they need to start their day. No newsletters selected. Subscribe By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . Related Venture The groupthink boom: what three top VCs really think about the AI frenzy Connie Loizos 7 hours ago AI OpenAI, not yet public, raises $3B from retail investors in monster $122B fund raise Rebecca Bellan Mar 31, 2026 AI Arm is releasing the first in-house chip in its 35-year history Rebecca Szkutak Mar 24, 2026 Latest in AI In Brief SoftBank says it will invest up to €75 billion to build French data centers Anthony Ha 2 minutes ago AI ‘What a joke': Github Copilot's new token-based billing spurs consternation among devs Lucas Ropek 5 hours ago In Brief Meta is reportedly developing an AI pendant Anthony Ha 6 hours ago