The race for AI infrastructure just got a massive injection of hardware. Nscale, a European-headquartered AI cloud provider, today announced an expanded deal with Microsoft to deploy approximately 200,000 NVIDIA GB300 GPUs across Europe and the U.S. This isn't just another cloud expansion; it's one of the largest AI infrastructure contracts ever signed, underscoring the insatiable demand for the specialized silicon powering the generative AI boom.
The Nscale Microsoft deal, which includes collaboration with Dell Technologies, is a strategic move to cement Microsoft's position in the global AI landscape. Nscale, known for its vertically integrated approach with owned data centers and GPU clusters, is positioning itself as a critical enabler for hyperscale AI deployments. "Few companies are equipped to deliver GPU deployments at this scale," stated Josh Payne, founder and CEO of Nscale, highlighting the company's readiness and global pipeline.
This agreement isn't starting from scratch. It significantly expands on existing plans, including the previously announced project to deliver the UK’s largest AI supercomputer at Nscale’s Loughton campus, which will house around 23,000 NVIDIA GB300 GPUs for Microsoft Azure services from Q1 2027.
A Transatlantic AI Power Play
The geographic spread of the Nscale Microsoft deal is particularly telling. A substantial portion, roughly 104,000 NVIDIA GB300 GPUs, will be deployed at a new 240MW hyperscale AI campus in Texas, with phased delivery to Microsoft starting Q3 2026. Microsoft also holds an option for a second 700MW phase, signaling long-term commitment.
Across the Atlantic, Nscale will deliver approximately 12,600 NVIDIA GB300 GPUs at the Start Campus data center in Sines, Portugal, from Q1 2026. This European deployment is crucial for providing "sovereign AI solutions" within the EU, a growing priority for many European enterprises and governments. Further bolstering its European footprint, the Aker-Nscale Joint Venture will supply around 52,000 NVIDIA GB300 GPUs to Microsoft from its Narvik, Norway, campus.
Microsoft's Jon Tinter, President, Business Development and Ventures, emphasized the commitment to global availability, sustainability, and scalability. "Nscale is an ideal partner for this mission, given its deep expertise in providing AI infrastructure services at scale," he noted. This massive influx of NVIDIA's latest generation GPUs will be critical for Microsoft to meet the surging enterprise demand for advanced AI capabilities, from large language models to complex machine learning tasks, solidifying the UK-US Tech Partnership in the process.
