DigitalBridge Group’s extensive telecommunications assets are joining SoftBank Group in a $4 billion deal focused on artificial intelligence infrastructure, both companies announced. The transaction reflects founder Masayoshi Son’s recognition that telecommunications infrastructure including towers and fiber networks are essential components of the AI ecosystem.
The deal brings SoftBank significant telecommunications infrastructure, which provides the connectivity and data transmission capabilities essential for distributed AI applications. Son has been directing SoftBank’s strategy to include telecommunications assets alongside computing infrastructure, recognizing that AI systems require robust connectivity. The growing demand for high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity to support AI applications makes telecommunications assets valuable, which DigitalBridge’s portfolio provides.
DigitalBridge’s telecommunications-focused holdings span digital infrastructure including cell tower networks for wireless connectivity, fiber optic systems for high-speed data transmission, small-cell infrastructure for network densification, alongside datacenters and edge computing facilities. The company’s telecommunications assets include Zayo’s extensive fiber networks, plus tower and small-cell holdings. Founded in 1991 as Colony Capital, the firm evolved under CEO Marc Ganzi to emphasize telecommunications infrastructure alongside computing assets, adopting the DigitalBridge name in 2021.
Marc Ganzi will continue leading these telecommunications assets as CEO, with DigitalBridge maintaining operational independence. The telecommunications value is substantial: DigitalBridge managed roughly $108 billion in assets as of September 30, including significant telecommunications infrastructure. This gives SoftBank important connectivity assets supporting AI application deployment.
SoftBank’s telecommunications and computing strategy extends to other major initiatives. The company is a core partner in the Stargate project, working with OpenAI, Oracle, and MGX, a technology investor headquartered in Abu Dhabi. This ambitious venture involves billions of dollars in investments to build large-scale computing infrastructure with supporting telecommunications capabilities optimized for advanced AI development. The project includes plans for five computing facilities in Texas, New Mexico, and Ohio with approximately 7 gigawatts of total power capacity.