The Financial Post reports in its Friday edition that the federal antitrust regulator wants to speed up its case against Rogers Communications' $26-billion purchase of Shaw Communications with a process that would schedule a dispute hearing in five to six months. A Reuters dispatch to the Post says the ordinarily that period is about a year. Rogers and the bureau could work toward a settlement even if the matter proceeds to the tribunal. Rogers has offered to sell Shaw's Freedom mobile unit to allay competition concerns, but Competition Bureau Canada has said that is not sufficient. Last week, Rogers disagreed with the bureau's contention that the deal would lessen competition, and the bureau said it would file its response by June 16. The battle is playing out against the backdrop of Canada's concentrated telco market, which has resulted in consumers paying the highest wireless bills in the world, according to Rewheel, a Finnish research firm. Rogers and Shaw have argued that a merger would ensure Shaw remains competitive as it has been unable to compete in a market dominated by Telus and BCE. Even with an expedited timeline, the dispute increases uncertainty about the acquisition, which has a July 31 closing.