SoftBank Group has completed a $4 billion deal to acquire DigitalBridge Group, gaining control of one of the world’s largest digital infrastructure investment platforms. The transaction, announced by both companies, represents a major step in SoftBank’s strategy to dominate the infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence development.
The acquisition gives SoftBank substantial new exposure to digital infrastructure assets that form the backbone of AI technology deployment. Founder Masayoshi Son has been systematically positioning SoftBank’s portfolio around artificial intelligence, recognizing the once-in-a-generation opportunity created by the technology. Demand for computing capacity to run AI applications has been growing at an extraordinary pace, creating significant value in infrastructure sectors where DigitalBridge has built expertise.
DigitalBridge’s investment portfolio spans essential digital infrastructure including datacenter properties, telecommunications towers, fiber optic networks, small-cell wireless systems, and edge computing infrastructure. Holdings include recognized companies like Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch, and AtlasEdge. The firm’s transformation from its origins as Colony Capital, a real estate investment firm founded in 1991, occurred under CEO Marc Ganzi, who orchestrated the exit from traditional real estate and the 2021 rebrand to DigitalBridge.
Under the acquisition terms, Ganzi will remain as CEO with DigitalBridge operating as a separately managed platform within SoftBank’s structure. The scale is noteworthy: DigitalBridge managed around $108 billion in assets as of September 30, establishing it as one of the premier dedicated investors in digital infrastructure globally. This brings both substantial assets and industry relationships into SoftBank’s portfolio.
SoftBank’s commitment to AI infrastructure includes multiple major initiatives. The company is a founding partner in the Stargate project, collaborating with OpenAI, Oracle, and MGX, a technology investor headquartered in Abu Dhabi. Stargate represents a multi-billion-dollar investment in large-scale computing infrastructure optimized for advanced AI development. The project includes plans for five computing sites across Texas, New Mexico, and Ohio, designed to deliver approximately 7 gigawatts of combined power capacity.
