Comcast Corporation has announced its intention to pay $150 million for part-ownership of Arris Group, Inc., which manufacturers set top boxes and cable modems.
Comcast will own 10.6 million shares of Arris when the deal is complete.
The investment comes at the same time Arris is completing its acquisition of Motorola Home Business, which has been a major supplier of cable equipment for years.
With the investment, Comcast is signaling its intent to remain committed to Arris and Motorola brand equipment, but also more strongly influence its future development.
Cable operators have often griped about proprietary software powering set top boxes and the cost of buying and maintaining equipment. Many operators plan to leverage their broadband networks to develop new, cloud-based software to improve the user experience and reduce the cost of equipment.
“This investment by one of our largest customers is a strong indication of customer support for the Motorola Home acquisition and its potential to accelerate innovation to the benefit of the industry and consumers,” said Bob Stanzione, Arris chairman and CEO.