Globalive Capital says it's entered a network sharing deal with Telus as a possible boost to its bid to buy Freedom Mobile, which is up for sale as part of the Rogers-Shaw merger.

It's being called phone-bill populism, and it could be a make-or-break issue for the parties as they head toward the Oct. 21 vote.

Two of Canada's biggest internet providers have slashed prices by about 45 per cent in the Toronto area for their most advanced offerings, but industry observers say such skirmishes are usually very local and short-lived.