then the government of the time IIRC said they had to share their kit with other people (or else they had an infrastructure monopoly) and this dented the business sufficiently that they changed tack and left the old copper in instead. Shame, could have been pretty advanced by now!
That has happened, and this is why you can get copper broadband with loads of suppliers, and FTTC via several. ISPs can install their own equipment in our exchanges, we even rent duct space to other companies now, although this is not reciprocated by Virgin! FTTP as far as I know has largely been put on the backburner as its so much more efficient to use FTTC, new builds may get FTTP. I essentially install FTTP for businesses (which is the dedicated bandwidth Choron mentioned) and it is slow to install, it takes on average 10-15hrs/ on average for myself and a colleague to install a typical new provide, and we work hard. FTTP would probably be a bit quicker as I would be working in one area intensively before moving on. FTTC is one installation to the cab and suddenly you’ve done several hundred properties.