In a move that underscores the critical importance of digital infrastructure to artificial intelligence development, SoftBank Group announced Monday it will acquire DigitalBridge Group for $4 billion. This strategic acquisition provides the Japanese technology investment powerhouse with direct ownership of essential infrastructure assets needed to support the explosive growth of AI computing applications.
The target of SoftBank’s acquisition operates across multiple fundamental digital infrastructure categories. DigitalBridge has built a diversified portfolio that includes datacenter properties, cellular tower networks, fiber optic telecommunications systems, distributed small-cell infrastructure, and edge computing facilities. The company counts among its holdings several prominent infrastructure operators including Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch, and AtlasEdge, all of which play vital roles in supporting digital connectivity and computing capacity.
DigitalBridge’s corporate history reflects the dramatic shift in investment priorities toward digital assets over the past decade. The firm launched in 1991 as Colony Capital with a traditional real estate investment focus. Recognition of the growing value of digital infrastructure led to a strategic repositioning under Marc Ganzi’s direction as CEO. After systematically divesting conventional property holdings, the company rebranded as DigitalBridge in 2021, signaling its complete transformation into a digital infrastructure specialist. Following the acquisition, Ganzi will retain his leadership position, guiding DigitalBridge as an independently managed entity within SoftBank’s structure.
With assets under management totaling roughly $108 billion at the end of September, DigitalBridge represents one of the investment world’s largest dedicated digital infrastructure platforms. This massive portfolio provides SoftBank with immediate exposure to infrastructure assets that are becoming increasingly valuable as artificial intelligence applications demand ever-greater computing resources. The scale of DigitalBridge’s operations complements SoftBank’s existing technology investments and strengthens its position in the AI infrastructure ecosystem.
SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son has identified artificial intelligence as a transformational technology warranting massive investment. Beyond the DigitalBridge acquisition, SoftBank has committed billions to the Stargate initiative alongside partners OpenAI, Oracle, and Abu Dhabi’s MGX. This ambitious project envisions constructing five major computing facilities across Texas, New Mexico, and Ohio, with aggregate power capacity approaching 7 gigawatts upon completion. These investments reflect Son’s strategic vision of positioning SoftBank at the center of the AI-driven technological revolution he believes will define the coming decades.
