[Aaargh20318]

> Why did they halt expansion?

Because it's cheaper to upgrade their existing phone network to VDSL than to install new fiber. Basically, they already own a nation-wide copper phone network, the fiber network was a competitor. They bought the competitor and halted expansion so they could squeeze some more money out of their existing copper network. The official PR bullshit is that by upgrading the copper network they can offer high speed internet to more people in a shorter amount of time than by expanding the fiber network.

> Would they not make enough profit outside of denser metropolitan areas?

The denser metropolitan areas are the main areas where there is no fiber yet. It's the more rural areas that have the best fiber penetration.