1. A method for designing, deploying or optimizing a communications network, comprising the steps of: providing a computerized model which represents a physical environment in which a communications network is or will be installed, said computerized model providing a display of at least a portion of said physical environment; providing performance attributes for a plurality of system components which may be used in said physical environment; selecting specific components from said plurality of system components for use in said computerized model; representing said selected specific components in said display; selecting specific points within said display where performance data is desired; running prediction models using the computerized model and said performance attributes to predict performance characteristics of a communications network composed of said selected specific components, said prediction models providing predicted performance data for said selected specific points; and displaying results from said prediction models on said display at said selected specific points in the form of one or more icons.