SoftBank Acquires Former Sharp Factory for $676 Million to Build AI Data Centre

Japanese technology conglomerate SoftBank has confirmed the purchase of a former Sharp LCD panel factory in Osaka for approximately 100 billion yen ($676 million). 

The facility, located at the Sharp Sakai Plant, will be converted into a large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) data centre.

The data centre will support SoftBank’s AI expansion plans, particularly in its collaboration with OpenAI. The Japanese firm has been strengthening its place in the AI sector, and the new facility will support the development and deployment of advanced AI solutions.

According to reports, SoftBank and OpenAI are working together through a joint venture, SB OpenAI Japan, which will focus on training AI models using customer data from various industries. 

These models will then be used on AI agents for commercial use. This initiative is in line with SoftBank’s goal to integrate AI into enterprise solutions in Japan.

The facility is projected to begin operations in 2026. SoftBank estimates that the plant’s existing power infrastructure will support an initial capacity of 150 megawatts, which could eventually expand to over 240 megawatts as demand increases.

The site will be the company’s third data centre, following existing facilities in Tokyo and Hokkaido.

SoftBank’s decision to acquire the Sakai plant follows a memorandum of understanding signed nearly a year ago to develop a major AI-focused data centre. 

The move also comes as SoftBank is reportedly in discussions to invest up to $25 billion in OpenAI, valuing the U.S.-based AI company at nearly $300 billion.

Neither SoftBank nor OpenAI have publicly commented on the latest developments, but the acquisition shows a good drive by SoftBank to boost the global AI infrastructure sector.

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