Overview

General Instrument (GI) was an American electronics manufacturer based in Horsham, Pennsylvania, specializing in semiconductors and cable television equipment. The company was active until 1997 when it split into General Semiconductor, CommScope and NextLevel Systems. NextLevel Systems, the former GI cable and satellite TV division, took over the General Instrument name in February 1998. The new GI Corporation was acquired by Motorola in January 2000 for $17 billion and became the new Broadband Communication Sector along with an acquisition of Zenith Network Systems. After being called Connected Home Solutions, it was renamed Home & Networks Mobility in 2007. When Motorola split in January 2011, this division became part of Motorola Mobility and was purchased by Google in August 2011. ARRIS (NASDAQ: ARRS) acquired Motorola Mobility's Home unit (former GI Corporation) from Google in April 2013. On November 8, 2018, CommScope (NASDAQ: COMM) announced that it would acquire ARRIS in a cash deal valued at $7.4 billion including the repayment of debt. This acquisition brings back together two of the former General Instrument companies from the 1997 split.