Balance Sheet Details (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]    
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]  
The components of our accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes, are as follows:
 
December 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
(in thousands)
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment
$
(1,326,003
)
 
$
(951,271
)
Other
(5,350
)
 
(4,806
)
 
$
(1,331,353
)
 
$
(956,077
)
Schedule of Cash Flow, Supplemental Disclosures [Table Text Block]
Supplemental Cash Flow Information.
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
(in thousands)
Capital expenditures
 

 
 

 
 

Cash paid for capital expenditures, including capitalized interest
$
612,161

 
$
620,895

 
$
953,882

Change in capital expenditures accrued and unpaid or financed, including
  accreted interest capitalized
(183,741
)
 
251,199

 
351,814

 
$
428,420

 
$
872,094

 
$
1,305,696

Interest costs
 

 
 

 
 

Interest expense, net
$
449,345

 
$
526,530

 
$
359,795

Interest capitalized
32,541

 
78,254

 
127,189

 
$
481,886

 
$
604,784

 
$
486,984

Acquisitions of assets and business combinations
 

 
 

 
 

Fair value of licenses and other assets acquired
$
31,861

 
$
53,066

 
$
100,185

Less: liabilities assumed and deferred tax liabilities incurred
—

 
—

 
—

Less: cash acquired
—

 
—

 
—

 
$
31,861

 
$
53,066

 
$
100,185

Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized
$
310,230

 
$
389,064

 
$
290,131

Cash paid for income taxes
$
24,544

 
$
39,292

 
$
269,597

For the year ended December 31, 2014, we had $319.6 million in non-cash financing, primarily related to capital lease obligations recognized in Brazil and Mexico in connection with the leaseback of communication towers and borrowings under our equipment financing facility in Mexico. For the year ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, we had $213.5 million and $194.5 million, respectively, in non-cash financing, primarily related to borrowings under our equipment financing facilities in Mexico, the short-term financing of imported handsets and infrastructure in Brazil and co-location capital lease obligations on our communication towers in Brazil and Mexico.
  
Schedule of Prepaid Assets and Other Disclosure [Table Text Block]
Prepaid Expenses and Other.

The components are as follows:
 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
(in thousands)
Value-added taxes
$
137,699

 
$
207,951

Income taxes
19,632

 
59,054

Other prepaid assets
97,573

 
90,108

Other current assets
74,293

 
40,461

 
$
329,197

 
$
397,574

  
Accrued Expenses and Other
Accrued Expenses and Other.
The components are as follows:
 
December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
(in thousands)
Capital expenditures
$
106,295

 
$
290,036

Non-income based taxes
87,127

 
114,360

Payroll related items and commissions
66,598

 
89,435

Network system and information technology
62,229

 
92,109

Accrued interest
10,574

 
128,509

Other
230,165

 
244,610

 
$
562,988

 
$
959,059