Canadian newspaper sources said struggling operator Mobilicity had won protection from its creditors and it was now seeking regulatory approval for the transaction to allow it to keep operating.
TELUS has not confirmed the rumours, and Reuters said both companies declined to comment on the situation.
TELUS’s previous bid to acquire Mobilicity was blocked by the federal government in June, on anti-competition grounds, as it wanted to ensure there were four competing wireless players in each region.
Mobilicity, Public Mobile and WIND Mobile acquired Canadian spectrum in 2008 but have so far struggled to affect the dominance of the country’s three largest players; Rogers Communications, TELUS and Bell.