Motorola (NYSE: MOT) now has its sights set on selling a division responsible for building set-top boxes and other cable and phone equipment, after deciding to delay the sale of its struggling wireless-phone business late last year. The WSJ is reporting that the division may go for as much as $4.5 billion, according to people familiar with the matter. The people said that the home and networks mobility division could be attractive to private-equity firms or other communications-gear makers.
It’s unknown whether the home and networks division would be sold in lieu of the wireless unit, but it may relieve pressure on how fast the company implements its cellphone turnaround plan, which just got off the ground with the launch of two handsets. Motorola told the WSJ that it still remains committed to splitting up the two businesses in the long-term, but declined to comment on the most recent rumors. J.P. Morgan Chase and Goldman Sachs Group are reportedly advising Motorola on the sale.
The home and networks business became Motorola’s largest division this year as its handset sales have fallen. Historically it was the company’s second-largest division, and while it also has been hurt by the economic downturn, it remains profitable.

Comments have been disabled for this post