Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have established that the technology exists to provide those in outer space with high speed broadband.

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The researchers, who will reveal their findings in detail at the upcoming CLEO conference on technology, conducted tests last year in which they managed to transmit data across the almost 400,000 kilometres between the Earth and Moon at a speed of 19.4Mbps, and achieved a download rate of 622 megabits per second.

Globally, the average connection speed is 3.8Mbps; in the UK it is 9.4Mbps, according to the fourth quarter 2013 Akamai report.

A laser telescope beamed the signal into space, though of the 40 Watt signal used, less than a billionth of a Watt was actually received on the moon. Even so, the researchers said this is much more than is needed for reliable communication and predicted that their method could be used for communication with deep space missions to Mars or elsewhere in the solar system.

Meanwhile in the UK, the government committee assessing a planned roll-out of broadband to rural areas has been highly critical of the 'monopoly' position of sole contractor BT, and the handling of the debacle by the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DMCS).

Countryside groups have said efforts to create a subsidised superfast broadband network for areas of Britain where purely commercial internet providers will not invest in infrastructure, has "no chance" of succeeding within the initial timeframe.

Coverage for 95 percent of rural areas was planned for 2015, but in April the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee lamented the lack of transparency from BT and inaction on the part of DMCS and local authorities. Last year, before the final few government contracts were awarded to BT, PAC chair Margaret Hodge warned, "We now have a situation where local authorities are contributing over £230 million more to the programme than forecast in the Department's business case, while BT is committing over £200 million less… and BT will end up owning assets created from £1.2 billion of public money."