It may cost more in the long run, but therefore be affordable in the short term, and far quicker to roll out, meaning they also get a return on investment coming in sooner. Our estate doesn't have any ducts, some bright accountant thought they'd save some money and just bury the cables when it was built in the 1970's. All sorts of problems like this greatly prolong the roll out of FTTP - we've all seen how delayed FTTP is. With G Fast they will probably just need to run ducting along the main road through our estate, no need to do the side roads.
But equally there are areas where FTTP or FTTdp should be more straightforward, but which aren't getting it, while seemingly more expensive/more difficult areas are getting FTTP. Everyone's situation is different. Down here they seem able to get FTTP done relatively quickly - from town centres and busy roads to rural farmhouses in the middle of nowhere. Perhaps I live in some alternate universe?
And of course areas like the B4RN footprint where BT is scrambling to deploy its own FTTP network. I wonder why they can't make do with FTTC?
Don't get me wrong, I fully agree that BT could never do FTTP everywhere, but they could be doing a much better job of it than they currently choose to (and have made some effort in some counties, such as Cornwall's 20 or 25% FTTP compared to barely anything for the rest of the country).
Whilst I'd rather have FTTP, I also rather have FTTC now than be waiting another few years for the FTTP roll out to get there.
Think of what BT is doing is a bit like taking out a mortgage or loan, which costs a lot more in the long run but means we can afford to buy things we otherwise couldn't.
Would you say the same if you were 1km+ from the FTTC cabinet, struggling to get ADSL2+ type speeds (or are indeed unable to get any new service) with no plans for BT to do any further improvements? Especially when there are people even more out-of-the-way than you that can enjoy 330Mbps today. Because that's how things are for some people. I have a pretty good FTTC connection, but I'd be livid if I was one of those fobbed off onto satellite while others in similar situations are on FTTP
There's also the question of whether the taxpayer is getting the best VFM by getting a technology that is already pretty dead end, except for the small percentage that have been deemed worthy of rolls-royce FTTP. Presumably G.FAST or FTTP will mean BT getting the begging bowl out again and/or rural areas getting the shaft (as I'd speculate that areas that can receive Virgin or another alternative provider that can beat FTTC will be first on the list)
The whole thing is a bit like the Highways Agency building a single carriageway road even though future traffic predictions suggest dual-carriageway or a motorway is necessary, and then acting surprised when a few years down the line it's in need of an upgrade again, when they could have done it properly from day one
