SoftBank Eyes AI Datacenter Dominance with $4B DigitalBridge Acquisition

SoftBank Group is eyeing dominance in artificial intelligence datacenter infrastructure through a $4 billion acquisition of DigitalBridge Group, the companies confirmed. The transaction represents founder Masayoshi Son’s strategic focus on controlling the physical infrastructure that powers AI applications.
This acquisition dramatically expands SoftBank’s footprint in digital infrastructure, which encompasses the critical assets necessary for AI systems to operate at scale. Son has been systematically redirecting SoftBank’s portfolio toward artificial intelligence, recognizing the extraordinary value creation opportunity. The explosive growth in demand for computing resources to train and run AI applications has made datacenter and infrastructure investments increasingly valuable, which DigitalBridge’s portfolio comprehensively captures.
DigitalBridge invests across essential digital infrastructure categories including datacenter properties, telecommunications towers, fiber optic networks, small-cell wireless systems, and edge computing facilities. The company’s holdings include recognized entities like Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch, and AtlasEdge. Originally established as Colony Capital in 1991 with a focus on real estate investment, the firm underwent a complete transformation under CEO Marc Ganzi’s direction, divesting traditional property assets and rebranding as DigitalBridge in 2021.
Marc Ganzi will continue leading DigitalBridge as CEO following the acquisition, with the platform maintaining operational independence. The scale of what SoftBank is acquiring is impressive: DigitalBridge managed around $108 billion in assets as of September 30, making it one of the world’s largest dedicated investors in digital infrastructure. This established platform provides SoftBank with immediate scale and specialized knowledge in the datacenter and infrastructure sectors.
SoftBank’s AI infrastructure strategy encompasses multiple major commitments. The company is a founding member of the Stargate project, working with OpenAI, Oracle, and MGX, an investment firm based in Abu Dhabi. Stargate represents a multi-billion-dollar investment in large-scale computing infrastructure optimized for advanced AI development. Current plans include five new computing sites in Texas, New Mexico, and Ohio designed for approximately 7 gigawatts of combined power capacity.