SoftBank Group has struck a $4 billion deal to acquire DigitalBridge Group, intensifying the competition among major investors to control the infrastructure that powers artificial intelligence. The acquisition, confirmed by both companies, is part of founder Masayoshi Son’s broader vision to position SoftBank at the heart of the AI revolution.
The transaction gives SoftBank substantial additional exposure to digital infrastructure, the physical and network assets that enable AI technologies to function at scale. Son has been systematically redirecting SoftBank’s investment focus toward artificial intelligence, viewing it as the defining technological shift of this era. The insatiable demand for computing capacity to support AI applications has created significant value-creation opportunities in infrastructure sectors, which DigitalBridge’s portfolio addresses directly.
DigitalBridge’s investment focus encompasses essential digital infrastructure including datacenter properties that house computing hardware, telecommunications towers that support wireless networks, fiber optic infrastructure that enables high-speed data transmission, small-cell systems that enhance network coverage, and edge computing facilities that process data closer to users. The portfolio features recognized companies such as Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch, and AtlasEdge. Originally established as Colony Capital in 1991 with a real estate focus, the company transformed completely under CEO Marc Ganzi’s direction, exiting traditional property investments and adopting the DigitalBridge name in 2021.
The acquisition arrangement ensures continuity, with Ganzi remaining as CEO and DigitalBridge maintaining its independence as a separately managed platform within SoftBank. The financial scale is significant: DigitalBridge managed around $108 billion in assets as of September 30, ranking it among the largest investors dedicated exclusively to digital infrastructure globally. This established platform brings both assets and relationships to SoftBank’s growing AI infrastructure portfolio.
Beyond DigitalBridge, SoftBank has committed substantial capital to AI infrastructure through other channels. The company is a founding partner in the Stargate project, collaborating with OpenAI, Oracle, and MGX, a technology investor based in Abu Dhabi. This initiative represents a multi-billion-dollar investment in large-scale computing infrastructure specifically designed for advanced AI development. Plans include constructing five computing facilities across Texas, New Mexico, and Ohio, with a combined target power capacity of about 7 gigawatts.