The Association of Cable Operators of Nigeria (ACON) has expressed concern over what it called progressive surrendering of Nigerian airwave to foreign control.

The association raised this alarm at the end of its quarterly conference held in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Chairman of ACON, Engineer Kunle Osisanya who read resolution of the conference alleged that the airwave was being surrendered to the foreign control for commercial purposes without any form of provision for the growth of local industry especially at the level of Terrestrial pay TV.

"Cable TV operators are taken aback that DSTV/Multichoice rolled out cable service in their GOTV service despite the fact of their license is for Mobile TV services.

"We wonder if there are separate laws or conditions of operation made for certain operators while the local industry is being stifled. We detest this unfair treatment and call on the authorities to immediately stop the GOTV service as it is being presently deployed and commissioned in Nigeria", he said.

The association also frowned at the operation of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) to embark on cable services in the name of Startimes outside the laws establishing it.

"These unfair practices are impediments to the growth of local industry as they have unfettered access to infrastructure that cost the local operators a fortune to acquire and remain in business", he added.

The ACON asked the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for a level playing ground between the local and foreign operators in order to encourage the growth of the local industry.

They called on the government to make public the digitization report which they said had long been released but kept in the drawers for no clear reasons.