Elon Musk’s space company has recently asked the federal government for permission to start testing an ambitious project to provide Internet service from space.

The plan requires launching a constellation of 4,000 small and cheap satellites that will beam high-speed internet signals to all parts of the globe, including its most remote regions.

And if the attempt turns successful, it could help SpaceX transform from a pure rocket company into a massive high-speed internet provider.

This attempt will not only take on major companies in the developed world, but also make first-time customers out of the billions of people who are not online.

Some prominent business tycoons including bill Gates have dreamt for long about saturating Earth with Internet signals from space.

Many such ventures have faced several obstacles which now Elon is trying to avoid. He has his own rocket, and also believes that the swarm of satellites will be more efficient and inexpensive than relying on a handful of big devices that are difficult to replace.

SpaceX’s web of satellites would wrap around Earth in low orbit, handing off Internet signals to each other to make connections more reliable and to reach more areas.

It has been said that the filing, made with the Federal Communications Commission late last month, is the first public glimpse into how Musk will move ahead with the project.

Musk is not the only billionaire entrepreneur who is pursuing such an idea, as Virgin’s Richard Branson has also partnered with a company with similar ambitions.