France captured €110 bn in AI and data‑centre commitments this week, including a €75 bn pledge from SoftBank. The deal could tripling the country’s data‑centre reach, but investors warn that grid access and fast‑track approvals will determine success.

SoftBank’s first tranche aims for €45 bn across three former industrial sites, with existing high‑voltage links to shorten timelines. Brookfield, Ardian, MGX, and Salesforce also signed, targeting roughly 10 GW of new computing power—about the output of 10 nuclear reactors—by 2031.

France’s strategy hinges on a “Notre‑Dame” approach: single points of contact, fast‑track sites, and a new law trimming legal appeals. Yet permitting remains a bottleneck, especially outside designated sites. If the fast‑track model delivers, France could cement its place as a European AI hub; failure to secure grid and approvals could stall the €110 bn push.