SoftBank Corp. plans to construct a large-scale AI data center utilizing land and buildings from Sharp Corporation's former LCD panel plant in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture. The facility is expected to begin full-scale operations in 2025, with plans to expand its power capacity significantly in the future.
This initiative by SoftBank and Sharp signifies a significant investment in AI infrastructure in Japan, aiming to support the growing demand for generative AI development and research by providing substantial computing power and resources.
SoftBank Corp. and Sharp Corporation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to construct a large-scale AI data center at Sharp's former LCD panel plant in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture. The facility will be situated on approximately 440,000 square meters of land, representing about 60% of the Sharp Sakai Plant's total area, with a total floor area of 750,000 square meters.
SoftBank aims to launch full-scale operations of the data center in 2025, with an initial power capacity of 150 megawatts. The company plans to significantly increase this capacity to over 400 megawatts in the future. Construction is targeted to begin around autumn 2024.
The data center is intended for SoftBank's own generative AI development and other AI-related businesses. Additionally, SoftBank plans to offer the facility to universities, research institutions, and businesses to meet diverse AI usage needs. The company is also considering the use of clean energy sources to minimize the data center's environmental impact.
This agreement also opens the door for potential future collaborations between SoftBank and Sharp in AI-related businesses.