A $4 billion deal to acquire DigitalBridge Group is positioning SoftBank Group ahead of competitors in artificial intelligence infrastructure investment, both companies confirmed. The transaction reflects billionaire Masayoshi Son’s competitive strategy to outpace rivals in accumulating infrastructure assets supporting AI technologies.
The deal positions SoftBank with substantially stronger digital infrastructure holdings compared to competitors, which provide the computing, storage, and networking capabilities for AI applications. Son has been racing to position SoftBank ahead in artificial intelligence infrastructure, viewing early and aggressive investment as key to market leadership. The explosive demand for computing resources to power AI systems rewards early movers, and DigitalBridge’s established portfolio gives SoftBank a competitive lead.
DigitalBridge invests across essential digital infrastructure sectors including datacenters, cell tower networks, fiber systems, small-cell infrastructure, and edge computing facilities ahead of market demand. The company’s holdings include industry leaders such as Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch, and AtlasEdge. Originally established as Colony Capital in 1991 with a traditional real estate focus, the firm moved ahead of competitors under CEO Marc Ganzi’s direction, transforming to digital infrastructure and rebranding as DigitalBridge in 2021.
Following the acquisition, Ganzi will continue positioning the assets ahead as CEO, with DigitalBridge operating as a separately managed platform. The competitive advantage is substantial: DigitalBridge managed around $108 billion in assets as of September 30, establishing it as one of the world’s largest dedicated investors in digital infrastructure. This positions SoftBank significantly ahead of competitors in AI infrastructure investment.
SoftBank’s ahead-positioning strategy extends to other initiatives. The company is a founding partner in the Stargate project, collaborating with OpenAI, Oracle, and MGX, an investment firm based in Abu Dhabi. Stargate represents a multi-billion-dollar commitment to building large-scale computing infrastructure optimized for advanced AI development. Current plans include five new computing facilities in Texas, New Mexico, and Ohio designed for approximately 7 gigawatts of combined power capacity.
