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SoftBank Deepens AI Infrastructure Investments In Europe

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

June 2, 2026

During a recent interview with CNBC in Paris, SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son said the ongoing artificial intelligence revolution could have an impact up to 50 times greater than the dot-com boom, underscoring the company’s growing commitment to AI infrastructure and technology investments.

Revolutionary Investment Scale

Speaking with CNBC’s Arjun Kharpal, Son compared the current AI wave to the early growth of the internet, arguing that the long-term implications could be significantly larger. Reflecting on the dot-com crash, he noted that while markets experienced a sharp correction, the internet ultimately transformed industries worldwide. Son suggested that AI could follow a similar trajectory, with periods of volatility outweighed by long-term technological adoption.

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Billion-Dollar Data Center Project In Europe

SoftBank recently announced plans to invest €75 billion (approximately $87 billion) in AI infrastructure in France. The project includes the development of 3.1 GW of AI data centre capacity in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031, covering locations including Dunkirk, Bosquel and Bouchain.

During a briefing alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, Son said the initiative would primarily rely on project financing, supported by expected long-term demand from customers and partners. The investment extends SoftBank’s AI infrastructure strategy from the United States into Europe.

Strategic Partnerships And Portfolio Balance

Alongside its European expansion, SoftBank continues to deepen its involvement in AI infrastructure projects globally. The group is a key partner in the Stargate initiative, which aims to develop large-scale AI infrastructure in the United States in collaboration with OpenAI. Addressing concerns about concentration risk, Son said OpenAI accounts for slightly more than 20% of SoftBank’s net asset value, while British chip designer Arm remains the company’s largest holding, representing more than 50% of its portfolio.

Looking Ahead

SoftBank’s growing investments in AI infrastructure reflect the company’s expectation that demand for computing power will continue to accelerate over the coming years. Through projects in Europe and the United States, as well as strategic investments across the AI ecosystem, SoftBank is positioning itself to benefit from what Son believes will be one of the most significant technological shifts since the rise of the internet.

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Cyprus Fuel Prices Jump 20.5% As Energy Costs Rise Across The EU

Cyprus recorded a 20.5% year-on-year increase in the prices of fuels and lubricants for personal transport in May 2026, according to Eurostat data released on Monday.

The increase was broadly in line with the European Union average of 20.7%, with fuel and lubricant prices rising across all EU member states during the period.

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Cyprus Tracks The EU Average

Among EU countries, the largest annual increases were recorded in Bulgaria (33.9%), Luxembourg (32.2%), Lithuania (30.8%) and Romania (30.4%). At the other end of the scale, Hungary registered the smallest increase at 3.5%, while annual growth ranged from 12.7% in Poland to 29.2% in France across the remaining member states.

Eurostat noted that fuel and lubricant prices generally declined across the EU until February 2026 before moving higher in subsequent months.

Diesel And Petrol Follow Different Paths

Across the European Union, diesel prices increased by 29% in May 2026 compared with the same month a year earlier, while petrol prices rose by 16.2%. Monthly trends, however, were more mixed. Between April and May 2026, diesel prices across the EU fell by 5.8%, whereas petrol prices increased by 0.8%.

In Cyprus, diesel prices declined by 1.5% over the same period. Although lower than in April, the decrease was less pronounced than in Germany (-11.9%), Greece (-8.5%), Estonia (-8.4%) and Ireland (-8.1%).

Petrol prices moved in the opposite direction, rising by 2.1% between April and May. A similar pattern was observed across much of the EU, with 23 member states reporting monthly increases. Italy recorded the largest monthly rise in petrol prices at 6.9%, while decreases were reported in Germany (-5.6%), Ireland (-2.0%) and Sweden (-0.7%).