Mark Zuckerberg is once more going head to head against his fellow technology tycoon and rival Elon Musk in a new space race to bring the internet to some of the most far-flung corners of the world.

Newly-uncovered documents have revealed that Facebook is planning to launch an internet satellite into low-Earth orbit by early next year. The project, named Athena, is designed to “efficiently provide broadband access to unserved and underserved areas throughout the world.” It is tipped to stream data 10 times faster than Elon Musk's push to develop an alternative system.

In a statement to Wired magazine, Facebook confirmed the project's existence. "While we have nothing to share about specific projects at this time, we believe satellite technology will be an important enabler of the next generation of broadband infrastructure, making it possible to bring broadband connectivity to rural regions where internet connectivity is lacking or non-existent," a Facebook spokesperson said.