SoftBank Announces €45 Billion Plan for AI Data Centers in France
SoftBank Group will spend 45 billion euros over five years on artificial intelligence infrastructure in France, with plans to expand to 75 billion euros. The project targets the Hauts-de-France region and will include sites in Dunkirk, Bosquel and Bouchain.
japantimes.co.jpSoftBank Group will invest 45 billion euros, or $53 billion, over the next five years to build artificial intelligence infrastructure in France. The company announced the plans on Saturday and described the commitment as the largest of its kind in Europe so far. 1 gigawatts of capacity.
The investment plans are scheduled for formal announcement on Monday at the Choose France business conference. Three initial sites, including one in Dunkirk, are expected to begin operations by 2031. Additional sites across the country are planned later and would raise the total investment to 75 billion euros, or $87 billion.
The initial locations include Dunkirk, Bosquel and Bouchain. The overall goal is to develop and operate up to 5 gigawatts of additional data center capacity. Schneider Electric will serve as a key partner and supply modules for the facilities.
State-owned nuclear operator EDF will transfer one of its former power plants to SoftBank for conversion into a data center. SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son said the fact that France is a producer and exporter of energy is absolutely decisive for investments in AI infrastructure. He spoke to the paper La Tribune du Dimanche.
SoftBank has already invested more than $30 billion in OpenAI and holds an 11 percent stake in the company. France has used the Choose France summit, launched by President Emmanuel Macron in 2018, to attract foreign investors.
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- Cnbc reported: SoftBank Group will invest 45 billion euros in artificial intelligence data centers in France over the next five years
- TechCrunch reported: The goal is to develop and operate up to 5 GW of additional data center capacity
- Cnbc reported: The investment will deliver 3.1 GW of data center capacity in the Hauts-de-France region
- Cnbc reported: Three sites including one in Dunkirk are expected to come into operation by 2031
- Cnbc reported: EDF is handing over one of its former power plants to be transformed into a data center
- Cnbc reported: Schneider Electric is a key partner that will equip the data center sites with its modules
- Cnbc reported: The investment plans are scheduled to be formally announced at the Choose France business conference
- Cnbc reported: Masayoshi Son stated that France being a producer and exporter of energy is decisive for AI infrastructure investments
- Cnbc reported: SoftBank has invested over $30 billion in OpenAI for an approximately 11% stake
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