SoftBank Closes $4B DigitalBridge Deal to Power AI Computing Infrastructure

SoftBank Group is closing a $4 billion deal to acquire DigitalBridge Group, positioning itself to power the next generation of artificial intelligence computing infrastructure. The transaction, confirmed by both parties, represents founder Masayoshi Son’s strategic vision of controlling the physical assets that enable AI applications.
Through this deal, SoftBank obtains substantially broadened exposure to digital infrastructure, which encompasses the computing, networking, and storage systems essential for AI technologies. Son has been systematically directing SoftBank’s capital toward artificial intelligence, characterizing it as a once-in-a-generation technological breakthrough. The unprecedented growth in demand for computing resources to support AI applications has created lucrative opportunities in infrastructure, which DigitalBridge’s portfolio directly captures.
DigitalBridge invests across critical digital infrastructure sectors including datacenters, cell tower networks, fiber systems, small-cell infrastructure, and edge computing facilities. The company’s holdings include prominent businesses such as Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch, and AtlasEdge. Originally established as Colony Capital in 1991 with a traditional real estate focus, the firm transformed completely under CEO Marc Ganzi’s leadership, systematically exiting legacy property investments and adopting the DigitalBridge name in 2021.
Following the deal closing, Ganzi will remain at the helm as CEO, with DigitalBridge functioning as a separately managed platform within SoftBank. The financial scope is impressive: DigitalBridge had approximately $108 billion in assets under management as of the end of September, establishing it as one of the world’s largest dedicated investors in digital infrastructure. This provides SoftBank with immediate scale and credibility in powering AI computing.
SoftBank’s AI infrastructure strategy encompasses multiple major commitments. The company is a key participant in the Stargate project, collaborating with OpenAI, Oracle, and MGX, a technology investor based in Abu Dhabi. This ambitious initiative involves billions of dollars in investments to build large-scale computing infrastructure purpose-built for advanced AI development. The project includes plans for five computing facilities in Texas, New Mexico, and Ohio with approximately 7 gigawatts of total power capacity.