A $4 billion deal is transferring DigitalBridge Group’s infrastructure management expertise to SoftBank Group, both companies announced. The transaction reflects billionaire Masayoshi Son’s strategy of acquiring not just assets but also the specialized knowledge and operational capabilities necessary to manage artificial intelligence infrastructure effectively.
The transfer provides SoftBank with proven management expertise in digital infrastructure, which is essential for operating the computing, storage, and networking assets that support AI applications. Son has been recognizing that successful AI infrastructure investment requires specialized management capabilities beyond capital deployment. The complex operational requirements of infrastructure supporting AI systems demand expert management, which DigitalBridge’s team brings to SoftBank.
DigitalBridge’s management expertise covers essential digital infrastructure including datacenter operations, telecommunications tower management, fiber network operations, small-cell system management, and edge computing facility operations. The company manages prominent assets including Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch, and AtlasEdge. This expertise developed from the firm’s transformation from Colony Capital, founded in 1991, through CEO Marc Ganzi’s leadership building specialized infrastructure management capabilities and the 2021 rebrand.
Following the expertise transfer, Ganzi and his experienced management team will continue leading DigitalBridge, with the platform operating independently within SoftBank. The management value is substantial: DigitalBridge’s team managed approximately $108 billion in assets as of September 30, demonstrating proven capability in digital infrastructure management. This expertise significantly strengthens SoftBank’s ability to manage its growing AI infrastructure portfolio.
SoftBank’s strategy of building management expertise extends to other initiatives. The company is a principal partner in the Stargate project alongside OpenAI, Oracle, and MGX, a technology investor based in Abu Dhabi. This collaborative effort involves billions of dollars in investments requiring expert management to build and operate large-scale computing infrastructure designed specifically 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.