SoftBank Group is moving forward with a $4 billion acquisition of DigitalBridge Group, reinforcing its strategy to achieve dominance in artificial intelligence infrastructure. The transaction, confirmed by both parties, is part of founder Masayoshi Son’s comprehensive plan to position SoftBank at the epicenter of the AI revolution.
This deal expands SoftBank’s exposure to digital infrastructure assets, which provide the foundational capabilities required for AI systems to function at scale. Son has been vocal about his belief that artificial intelligence represents a once-in-a-generation technological breakthrough, and he’s systematically deploying capital to ensure SoftBank captures value from this transformation. The surging demand for computing resources to train and operate AI models has created lucrative opportunities in infrastructure sectors where DigitalBridge has established positions.
DigitalBridge’s investment strategy encompasses critical digital infrastructure including datacenters, cell tower networks, fiber systems, small-cell infrastructure, and edge computing facilities. Portfolio companies include well-known entities like Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch, and AtlasEdge. The company’s evolution from Colony Capital, a real estate investment firm founded in 1991, to its current incarnation occurred under CEO Marc Ganzi, who led the strategic pivot away from traditional real estate and the 2021 rebrand.
The acquisition preserves DigitalBridge’s leadership and operational structure, with Ganzi continuing as CEO and the platform functioning independently within SoftBank. The scale is impressive: DigitalBridge had approximately $108 billion in assets under management as of September 30, establishing it as among the largest dedicated investors in digital infrastructure globally. This gives SoftBank immediate access to substantial assets and industry expertise.
SoftBank’s involvement in AI infrastructure includes multiple high-profile initiatives. The company is a founding member of the Stargate project, collaborating with OpenAI, Oracle, and MGX, a technology investment firm headquartered in Abu Dhabi. Stargate represents a multi-billion-dollar commitment to building large-scale computing infrastructure specifically engineered for advanced AI development. Plans call for five computing sites in Texas, New Mexico, and Ohio with approximately 7 gigawatts of combined power capacity.
