DigitalBridge Infrastructure Empire Moves to SoftBank for $4 Billion

DigitalBridge Group’s infrastructure empire is moving to SoftBank Group for $4 billion in a transaction that reshapes the artificial intelligence infrastructure landscape. The deal announcement reflects billionaire Masayoshi Son’s conviction that owning infrastructure assets will be key to capturing value from the AI revolution.
This acquisition provides SoftBank with substantially increased exposure to digital infrastructure, which delivers the computing, storage, and connectivity capabilities that AI systems require. Son has been systematically focusing SoftBank’s investments on artificial intelligence, characterizing it as the most significant technological transformation in a generation. The massive growth in demand for computing power to support AI applications has created lucrative opportunities in infrastructure, which DigitalBridge’s portfolio comprehensively addresses.
DigitalBridge invests across essential digital infrastructure categories including datacenter facilities, telecommunications tower networks, fiber optic systems, small-cell infrastructure, and edge computing platforms. The company’s holdings include well-known entities like Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch, and AtlasEdge. Founded in 1991 as Colony Capital with a focus on traditional real estate, the firm underwent a complete transformation under CEO Marc Ganzi’s direction, exiting legacy property investments and adopting the DigitalBridge name in 2021.
Under the transaction terms, Ganzi will remain at the helm as CEO, with DigitalBridge continuing to operate as an independently managed platform. The magnitude of what SoftBank is acquiring is considerable: DigitalBridge managed approximately $108 billion in assets as of the end of September, establishing it as among the world’s premier dedicated investors in digital infrastructure. This gives SoftBank immediate scale and credibility in a rapidly growing sector.
SoftBank’s involvement in AI infrastructure includes multiple major projects. The company is a core partner in the Stargate project, collaborating with OpenAI, Oracle, and MGX, a technology investor headquartered in Abu Dhabi. This ambitious venture involves deploying billions of dollars to construct large-scale computing infrastructure purpose-built for advanced AI development. Current plans include five computing facilities in Texas, New Mexico, and Ohio designed for approximately 7 gigawatts of combined power capacity.