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He already has plans to bring the internet to remote parts of the world, and now SpaceX founder Elon Musk has set his sights on bringing it to space too.

The entrepreneur says he wants to build a second internet in space, which could one day be used to enable any people living in colonies on Mars to get online.

There is currently no name for the ambitious space venture, but it could speed up internet services on Earth too.

Elon Musk, (pictured) says he wants to build a second internet in space, which could one day be used to enable people living on Mars to get online

Mr Musk told Bloomberg Businessweek's Ashlee Vance, that his aim is to create 'a global communications system that would be larger than anything that has been talked about to date.' 

Earlier this month, he said that he aims to share plans to build a colony on Mars, later this year.

He said: 'It will be important for Mars to have a global communications network as well. I think this needs to be done, and I don't see anyone else doing it.' 

Mr Musk's project would involve hundreds of satellites orbiting about 750 miles (1,207km) above the planet – far closer than communications satellites in geosynchronous orbit at 22,000 miles (35,406 km). A stock image is shown

The project could cost $10 billion (£7 billion) and $15 billion (£10 billion), Mr Musk revealed in a Tweet, adding that any revenues would be used to fund a colony on the red planet. 

It would involve hundreds of satellites orbiting about 750 miles (1,207km) above the planet – far closer than communications satellites in geosynchronous orbit at 22,000 miles (35,406 km).

At the moment, internet data packets travelling from London to New York, for example, have to pass through numerous routers and different networks, whereas Mr Musk plans to route packs via space satellites instead.

This would make services faster and potentially cheaper too.

The project will be run from SpaceX's Seattle office, whose employees will also work on the firm's Falcon rockets, for example.

The ultimate goal is provide high-speed internet to the three billion people who have poor or no access to the web.

It's thought it will take at least five years to produce and launch the first generation of satellites and the project could take over 15 years to work how Mr Musk envisions, The Huffington Post reported.

The race is on to connect remote parts of the world, with both Google and Facebook also investing in technologies such as balloons and drones. 

Earlier this month, Mr Musk said that he aims to share plans to build a colony on Mars, later this year. An image of MarsOne's proposed colony on the red planet is pictured. He said: 'It will be important for Mars to have a global communications network as well'