SoftBank Group Corp. is set to acquire U.S.-based digital infrastructure investor DigitalBridge in a deal valued at approximately $4 billion, marking a major step in the Japanese conglomerate’s effort to capitalise on surging demand for AI-driven infrastructure. The acquisition underscores SoftBank’s strategy of building the foundational assets needed to support large-scale artificial intelligence deployment, including data centres, connectivity networks, and power-intensive computing platforms.
SoftBank founder and CEO Masayoshi Son framed the deal as a long-term bet on the infrastructure underpinning the AI era. “As AI transforms industries worldwide, we need more compute, connectivity, power, and scalable infrastructure,” Son said, adding that the acquisition would help strengthen the foundation required for next-generation AI data centres. The move aligns with SoftBank’s broader ambition to position itself at the centre of what Son has described as a historic shift driven by artificial intelligence.
DigitalBridge is a major global investor in digital infrastructure, with assets spanning data centres, fibre networks, cell towers, small-cell systems, and edge infrastructure. Its portfolio includes prominent platforms such as Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch, and AtlasEdge, which play a critical role in supporting cloud services, AI workloads, and high-speed data transmission. By acquiring DigitalBridge, SoftBank gains direct exposure to the physical backbone required to scale AI applications globally.
Despite the acquisition, DigitalBridge will continue to operate as an independent entity, subject to regulatory approvals. The company will remain under the leadership of CEO Marc Ganzi, preserving its operational autonomy and investment strategy. Commenting on the deal, Ganzi highlighted the scale of the opportunity ahead, stating, “The buildout of AI infrastructure represents one of the most significant investment opportunities of our generation,” while pointing to a shared vision between DigitalBridge and SoftBank.
The deal also complements SoftBank’s recent AI-focused initiatives. The group has been expanding its involvement in large-scale computing projects, including participation in the Stargate initiative alongside OpenAI, Oracle, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX. That project aims to significantly increase advanced computing capacity in the United States through the development of multiple high-powered data centre sites.
Industry analysts see the DigitalBridge acquisition as a strategic move that ties together SoftBank’s investments across AI software, chips, and now the infrastructure layer. As AI models grow larger and more power-hungry, demand for reliable, scalable digital infrastructure is expected to rise sharply.
With this acquisition, SoftBank is positioning itself not just as an investor in AI applications, but as a key enabler of the global infrastructure required to sustain the next wave of artificial intelligence-driven growth.
