Brocade’s networking and IP business unit is expected to have a buyer any day now, and Reuters is repeating the theory that Arris might be the buyer.

In November, SDxCentral reported that the cable-network equipment vendor Arris Group could be a potential buyer, based on an analyst’s unusual theory. Mitch Steves of RBC Markets thinks the vendor could use Brocade's Ruckus division to sell wireless LAN equipment to its cable-provider customer base.

Similarly, Reuters reported on Friday that the box maker is in talks with Brocade in a deal that could be worth as much as $1 billion. According to Reuters’ sources, Arris is looking at Brocade’s edge-network business, which is the most valuable asset being sold, and is not looking to buy the other divested parts of the business including switching, software, and data center gear.

Broadcom is in the process of buying Brocade and has publicly announced plans to sell Brocade’s networking business, which competes with top Broadcom clients including Cisco. Broadcom should expect to find a buyer sometime this month, Steves wrote in a recent research note.

Based on Brocade’s IP revenues — about $1 billion per year evenly split between Ruckus and the rest of the business unit — Steves thinks that a $2.2 billion price is fair: $1.25 billion for Ruckus and $950 million for the switching and routing.

Arris is one of many potential buyers for Brocade’s networking business. Earlier this month, TechTarget reported that several private equity firms are interested in buying the business unit as well; private equity was assumed to be a possibility to begin with.

Traditional IT players would be possible buyers as well, either for the entire IP business or just the Ruckus unit.