Pranav Hotkar
Paris, France - May 31, 2026 - SoftBank Group Corp. and French AI infrastructure company Sesterce have announced plans to develop a 1 GW AI data center campus in Bosquel, northern France, as part of SoftBank’s broader commitment to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure across Europe.
The project will be developed through a joint venture in which SoftBank will hold a majority stake. The announcement follows SoftBank’s pledge at the Choose France Summit 2026 to invest in up to 5 GW of AI infrastructure capacity across the country.
Located in the Hauts-de-France region, the Bosquel campus was selected for its strategic proximity to major European economic centers, including Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, London, and Frankfurt. The companies said the location offers strong connectivity and access to infrastructure needed to support large-scale AI computing workloads.
According to SoftBank, the facility will rank among Europe’s largest AI-focused data center developments and is expected to serve growing demand for advanced AI training and inference applications.
“AI will shape the next era of technology, industry and human progress,” said Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group. “This project marks an important step in building the infrastructure needed to support that future.”
The campus will be developed in partnership with Sesterce, a France-based company specializing in AI-ready data center infrastructure and high-performance computing environments. The company focuses on integrating power, cooling, networking, and GPU resources to support large-scale AI deployments.
Beyond digital infrastructure, the project is expected to deliver economic benefits to the surrounding region. The companies estimate the campus will create approximately 400 permanent skilled jobs across operations, maintenance, security, and technical services once operational.
To support local development, the joint venture also plans to establish a EUR 10 million (~USD 11.65 million) regional endowment fund in partnership with the Hauts-de-France regional government. The fund will support AI adoption initiatives among businesses, schools, universities, and community organizations.
In addition, a dedicated community center will be created to host educational programs, innovation initiatives, and public engagement activities related to artificial intelligence and digital technologies.
The companies said the campus will incorporate advanced technologies designed to reduce environmental impact and minimize water consumption, reflecting increasing industry emphasis on sustainable AI infrastructure.
The Bosquel development represents a significant milestone in France’s efforts to attract large-scale AI investments and strengthen its position as a leading European hub for next-generation digital infrastructure.
