This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
SoftBank (SFTBY) is pulling in some of the biggest names in tech for its massive U.S. data center project, with Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) reportedly among those looking to lock in capacity.
To put the scale into perspective, this is not just another data center. The Ohio project could reach 10 gigawatts and involve as much as $500 billion in total investment. SoftBank plans to build out the infrastructure and power, while the companies that lease space would bring in their own systems and chips. It is a shared model that helps spread out the cost while still moving quickly to meet demand.
And demand is really the key here. AI workloads are exploding, and companies are scrambling to secure enough compute to keep up. That is why names like Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), Meta (NASDAQ:META), and OpenAI are also being mentioned. Everyone wants a seat at the table because capacity is becoming just as important as the technology itself.
