Regulator Ofcom has invited applications from public service broadcasters who want to provide high-definition services on Freeview.

The broadcasters are invited to compete for space on Multiplex B, which is to be upgraded to use MPEG-4 and DVB-T2 compression/transmission technologies to allow HD services to be broadcast on the digital terrestrial TV platform.

Ofcom said there will be sufficient capacity on Multiplex B for three HD services to start – one of which will be earmarked for the BBC.

Applications for the remaining two must be in by August 13 and a non-refundable fee of £15,000 will be required for each application made.

The regulator said it was unable to set a precise time at which the capacity would actually become available. However, it considered a realistic target date of around November 1, 2009, for the Granada region.

It reckons consumer hardware capable of receiving services from an upgraded Multiplex B would start to become available from the fourth quarter of next year.

Ofcom pointed out that migration to the new standards could only take place on a region by region basis as digital switchover completes.