SoftBank’s proposed $4 billion takeover of data center and network infrastructure giant DigitalBridge has taken a step forward, with the deal set to avoid a potential national security review.

A public notice issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) stated that the agency found no “special circumstances” warranting further investigation.

Masayoshi Son-led SoftBank Group won the race to acquire DigitalBridge, with prior rumors placing 26North as the lead candidate. The deal was announced in late December, with SoftBank set to acquire more than $100 billion in assets, including data center brands such as Switch, AtlasEdge, and Yondr Group.

Also part of the deal would be Colorado-based WideOpenWest! (WOW!) The regional ISP’s inclusion means pre-closure checks require regulatory approval as the deal involves transferring ownership of a U.S. ISP to a Japanese entity.

The FCC said in its latest notice that it found nothing untoward and the deal is set to proceed. The next step sees the agency invite public comment on the proposed acquisition, with interested parties having until July 9 to submit views.

The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approval. DigitalBridge itself will continue to operate as a “separately managed platform” and will be led by current CEO Marc Ganzi.

SoftBank’s acquisition comes as it’s leading efforts to build out data center infrastructure to support OpenAI’s mammoth Stargate project. In a bid to secure the $30 billion investment to kickstart the venture, the Japanese giant sold its stake in Nvidia for $5.83 billion and a portion of its stake in T-Mobile US for $9.2 billion.

DigitalBridge had taken over WOW! in August 2025, spending $1.5 billion in a joint deal with Crestview Partners. Founded in the late 90s, WOW! provides broadband to nearly two million residential, business, and wholesale consumers spanning markets primarily in the Midwest and Southeast.