The digging generally is for the final few metres in to the house itself. If it is underground cable then running the cable those final few metres can be an issue (and even if there are ducts they may have collapsed and need replacing). FTTC was generally chosen nationwide as the default because it removes the need to dig up people's gardens/driveways/patios/etc to get a cable in (for FTTC the phone cable is there already).

FTTC is the default option. FTTP in most areas is currently done as a last resort by BT. That will likely change in future but is the current reality.

Speed of deployment, FTTC is quicker to deploy and needs less labour to deliver.

FTTP in addition to the fibres going to the aggregation node, they need to then run fibres to a splitter, and then each DP needs a fibre manifold, so as part of the roll-out you need to get fibre to a point that is within a short distance of around 10 premises. Its the extra time that this takes that is the issue.

So nothing odd at all, but a simple labour and cost of labour and time exercise.

If the roll-out is happening commercially it is also likely to be slower as there are penalty clauses in the BDUK contracts, so hitting those targets is important.

In the last year the processes used to deploy FTTP have become simpler, hence the up turn in the amount rolled out.

That makes sense.

Out of interest if fibre is on my estate and I have FTTC will I one day be able to upgrade to FTTP at a reasonable price, or do you think it will stay like this for a long time.

It was such a battle to get FTTC because my cab has such low numbers I can't see them rushing to enable GFAST.

That would currently be the Fibre on Demand product which currently is not at a reasonable price.

As for when that might change all depends on how popular the FTTP services prove i.e. will people only pay the price of the lowest spec product or is their higher incremental revenue as more buy the faster options.

NOTE: In a year or so time the FTTC areas may actually be cheaper for broadband than FTTP due to changes Ofcom is putting in place.

In reply to a post by kingbiscit:

That makes sense.

I'll just add to MrSaffron's account: Generally, the capital investment for FTTP is calculated to be around 4x - 5x that of FTTC.

In reply to a post by kingbiscit:

Out of interest if fibre is on my estate and I have FTTC will I one day be able to upgrade to FTTP at a reasonable price, or do you think it will stay like this for a long time.

As it stands, FTTPoD has the high costs as MrSaffron said. But the installation is dependent on the distance to the aggregation node. With 4 cabs close, the distance to an aggregation node isn't likely to be high.

In addition, your future likelihood of BT-funded FTTP might depend on the way your ducting was built. BT recently ran a trial in Swindon, putting fibre into a recent estate where the ducting was suitable. If the new Openreach consultation results in an improved rollout, that kind of "properly-ducted estate" might find itself in favour.

In reply to a post by kingbiscit:

It was such a battle to get FTTC because my cab has such low numbers I can't see them rushing to enable GFAST.

What will matter for G.Fast is how many subscribers are within 200-300m of the cabinet, rather than the total number served. You might find yourself in a better position with that criteria.

Tries to refrain from shouting...but the checkers are showing addresses on the estate that don't have FTTC already are in the plans for FTTP

I'm aware. So I'm not sure which bit you need to refrain from shouting about. My comment about FTTPoD?

If so, then note that my comment relates to the properties on the estate that do have FTTC, aren't in the plans for FTTP, but do mention FTTPoD.

Or was it about the Swindon trial?

If so, then that might be a part of the reason as to why the addresses without FTTC can now look forward to FTTP. And that reasoning could easily extend to any FTTP deployments negotiated beyond 2020.

Or is it about the capex cost multiplier of FTTP?

If so, then those numbers are an aggregate, wide-area generalisation. They can't hope to depict the nuances involved in delivering to a small part of an estate.

Or was it about G.Fast?

If so, then I can't think of anything to respond with.

Was re-highlighting that original poster can see native FTTP on the way now.

Extended discussion on costs and other things are irrelevant if Openreach (or even if gap funded) is now saying FTTP on the way. Looking at estate layout very very very unlikely that any of the FTTC is going to get a native FTTP overlay.

Maybe the confusion comes from what the OP was told by the neighbour.

In reply to a post by kingbiscit:

Openreach have been busy on the estate recently and when quizzed by a neighbour they said they were putting FTTP into the entire estate and it should be ready in the next 4 weeks.

I noticed FTTP on demand has suddenly become available

We have no idea what the engineer(s) said to the neighbour and how cognisant that neighbour is of the difference between FTTP and FTTPoD. If the neighbour had also seen FTTPoD on their own estimate and had been told the current work was for FTTP, nuff said about a passed on message getting garbled.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

Was re-highlighting that original poster can see native FTTP on the way now.

That's to other properties on the estate. His cabinet is one of the ones that has FTTC.

So your later point is important:

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

Looking at estate layout very very very unlikely that any of the FTTC is going to get a native FTTP overlay.

In which case, those extended discussions *are* relevant, because they are the only way that the OP is likely to be able to get a pure-fibre connection himself.

The discussions are very forward-looking, and open to all sorts of changes. But the OP was asking for that...