Relating fuzzy and interval approaches to the access network planning under uncertainty

Telecommunications systems planning often depends on a large amount of imprecise data. Nevertheless, plans must be robust and profitable. For dealing with uncertainty concerning the equipment costs, two parametric approaches are presented. The first one is based on fuzzy sets concepts, and the second adopts intervals for the costs. Both methods are related, and are proved to be similar under some conditions. A model to the optical access network planning is developed. An application to an actual network is fully reported. As a major result, the model allows competition among several technologies. Solving the model by any of the parametric approaches gives the planner a foresight of the influence of varying costs on the planned network