SoftBank Captures Edge Computing Assets in $4B DigitalBridge Acquisition

SoftBank Group is capturing valuable edge computing assets through a $4 billion acquisition of DigitalBridge Group, the companies jointly confirmed. The transaction reflects founder Masayoshi Son’s recognition that edge infrastructure will be critical to next-generation artificial intelligence applications requiring distributed computing capabilities.
The acquisition provides SoftBank with significant edge computing exposure alongside traditional datacenter assets, which deliver distributed processing capabilities for advanced AI systems. Son has been directing SoftBank’s strategy toward capturing emerging infrastructure categories like edge computing, anticipating future AI requirements. The growing demand for low-latency, distributed computing to support sophisticated AI applications makes edge assets increasingly valuable, which DigitalBridge’s portfolio includes.
DigitalBridge invests across digital infrastructure categories with edge computing emphasis, including edge facilities alongside datacenters, cell towers, fiber networks, and small-cell systems. The company’s holdings include edge infrastructure through AtlasEdge and others, plus traditional assets like Vantage Data Centers, Switch, and Zayo. Founded in 1991 as Colony Capital with a real estate focus, the firm evolved under CEO Marc Ganzi’s leadership to include cutting-edge infrastructure, adopting the DigitalBridge name in 2021.
Marc Ganzi will continue leading the edge computing portfolio as CEO, with DigitalBridge maintaining operational independence. The edge infrastructure value is substantial: DigitalBridge had approximately $108 billion in assets under management as of September 30, including significant edge computing investments. This gives SoftBank valuable exposure to edge infrastructure supporting next-generation AI applications.
SoftBank’s edge and distributed computing strategy extends beyond DigitalBridge. The company is a core partner in the Stargate project, working with OpenAI, Oracle, and MGX, a technology investor headquartered in Abu Dhabi. This collaborative initiative involves billions of dollars in investments to build large-scale and distributed computing infrastructure 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.