The deal, announced on Monday, would bring Digital Bridge’s extensive portfolio of data centres, fibre networks, cell towers and edge infrastructure under Softbank’s umbrella. The acquisition aligns with Softbank’s broader strategy to centre itself amid the ongoing AI boom by bolstering the physical foundations needed to support large-scale computing and data services vital to AI development, reports The Guardian.

Softbank’s billionaire founder and CEO Masayoshi Son has positioned the company as a global leader in digital infrastructure, with a vision that extends beyond software and algorithms to the hardware and connectivity that underpin AI services. According to Softbank’s official announcement, Son said the acquisition will help “strengthen the foundation for next-generation AI data centres,” and advance the company’s long-term vision to become a leading provider of artificial super intelligence (ASI) infrastructure.

The deal illustrates Softbank’s ambition to evolve into Japan’s conglomerate for digital infrastructure, complementing its previous investments across AI and related technologies. The company has already poured billions into AI initiatives such as OpenAI and the Stargate project, a collaboration with Oracle and others to build large-scale computing facilities in the United States.

Digital Bridge, which manages over $100 billion in assets, will continue to operate as a separately managed platform under CEO Marc Ganzi following the acquisition, which is expected to close in the second half of 2026 pending regulatory approval.

The move marks another bold step in Softbank’s effort to consolidate its presence in AI infrastructure at a time when global demand for compute power and connectivity continues to surge.