In remote south-western Queensland, two councils are planning to build their own high-speed internet network.

The Barcoo and Diamantina Shires are too isolated to get high-speed fibre optic cable through the Government's National Broadband Network.

As part of the NBN, the region will have access to high-speed satellite services, which could increase data speeds by up to 12 times.

But Bruce Scott, the former mayor of Barcoo Shire, says a fibre optic network is the only way the region can keep up as technology advances.

"There is no fibre within 400 kilometres of Birdsville, 300 kilometres of Windorah and 200 kilometres of Bedourie, so it's an enormous void," he told Saturday AM.

"The national information superhighway is so critically important and if we've got a second-rate service coming into these communities what reason is there for people to stay?

"What reason is there for people to own and operate the service station, to be a teacher in the school?"

And so the Barcoo Shire and the neighbouring Diamantina Shire are going it alone.

They are planning to roll out 700 kilometres of optic fibre between five of the region's towns, including the popular tourism destination Birdsville, to link the region to the national network.

The project is expected to cost about $22 million.

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The councils say they can afford to put $6 million towards the project, but want money from the federal and state governments to help cover the rest.

"I've had very positive responses from the Queensland Government. Certainly no promises - we all know the Queensland Government has got a very, very tight budget," Mr Scott said.

The remote shires are hoping the Federal Government's regional development fund will cover 50 per cent of the project's costs.

But telecommunications analyst Mark McDonnell says it is unlikely the Government will approve funding if a high-speed satellite service is already planned.

"The NBN Co is prosecuting a national program for deployment. It is the central agency involved," he said.

"And while I can sympathise with people wanting to act independently - and in the way telecommunications used to be organised - that was actively encouraged.

"[But] today we're in a different context completely."

Some local councils in other states and territories are also investigating how to get access to the fibre-optic network.

But many will only have to pay to get the network extended, they will not have to build a completely new section.

Queensland Liberal National Party Senator Barnaby Joyce says the Diamantina and Barcoo Shires deserve support to build their fibre-optic network.

"If you're waiting for the people to pay for it, they won't get it," he said.

"And if you say, 'Oh well, that's fair enough, we'll just let them linger in the 19th Century', well, you know, that's not an appropriate answer.

"We've got to make sure that we do what's in our power to bring the service out to them."

The Federal Government's regional development fund is currently on hold, but the Government says another three rounds of funding will be rolled out before the next election.