SoftBank is reportedly in advanced discussions to acquire DigitalBridge, one of the world’s largest digital infrastructure investment firms, in a move that underscores the Japanese conglomerate’s ambition to dominate the next era of AI-driven computing. According to a source familiar with the matter, a deal could be finalized before year-end, signaling SoftBank’s urgency as global capital floods into data-center-centric infrastructure and the power-intensive backbone of artificial intelligence.

While both SoftBank and DigitalBridge declined to comment, the market reaction was swift. DigitalBridge shares surged as much as 35% to their highest level in more than a month, a sharp reversal for a stock that had fallen nearly 14% this year prior to the report. The rally reflects investors’ growing belief that digital infrastructure is evolving into a strategic asset class — not only for data storage and cloud services, but increasingly for AI model training and inference.

SoftBank’s Strategy: Securing an AI Infrastructure Foothold

SoftBank’s potential acquisition comes as global spending on AI-linked infrastructure accelerates at unprecedented speed. McKinsey estimates capital expenditures could reach $6.7 trillion by 2030, reshaping everything from data centers and fiber networks to energy systems capable of supporting the enormous power demands of frontier AI models.

The interest aligns with SoftBank’s broader push into AI leadership. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump convened executives from major technology firms to launch Stargate, a private-sector consortium that plans to spend up to $500 billion building AI infrastructure across the U.S. SoftBank is part of this high-stakes initiative, alongside OpenAI and Oracle, giving the firm direct exposure to one of the most capital-intensive technology buildouts in modern history.

Acquiring DigitalBridge — a company managing $108 billion in assets — would meaningfully deepen SoftBank’s infrastructure footprint. DigitalBridge invests across the full spectrum of digital connectivity: data centers, fiber networks, cell towers, and edge computing. Its portfolio spans major operators such as Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch, and AtlasEdge, all critical components for powering next-generation AI ecosystems.

Why Digital Infrastructure Is Becoming the New Battleground

A confluence of forces has turned digital infrastructure into one of the hottest asset classes globally. The shift toward AI workloads is dramatically increasing demand for high-density data centers with specialized cooling and power configurations. At the same time, data localization rules and national-security considerations are pushing governments and corporations to build or acquire domestic infrastructure rather than relying on external providers.

This environment has sparked a wave of dealmaking. BlackRock’s purchase of Global Infrastructure Partners last year accelerated its push into data-center assets, adding AI-focused platforms across multiple regions. Similar moves by private equity firms, sovereign wealth funds, and pension managers signal that digital infrastructure — once considered a niche sub-sector — is rapidly becoming central to institutional portfolio strategy.

For SoftBank, a DigitalBridge acquisition would not only expand its investment universe but also provide operational control and ownership visibility across key infrastructure nodes. That could strengthen its negotiating position within the Stargate consortium and elevate its relevance in the geopolitical race to build AI-ready digital backbones.

Outlook: A Transformational Deal With Global Implications

If completed, a SoftBank–DigitalBridge merger would represent one of the most strategically significant infrastructure transactions of the decade. The deal would give SoftBank greater influence over the data-center supply chain at a time when AI demand is rising exponentially and infrastructure constraints — from power availability to chip capacity — are becoming critical bottlenecks.

Investors will watch closely for deal terms, regulatory considerations, and potential competitive reactions as the global arms race for AI infrastructure intensifies. With trillions in future spending on the horizon, the sector’s consolidation is far from over, and SoftBank’s next move could set the tone for how aggressively major players position themselves in the years ahead.