Debt (Debt) (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Jul. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2014
Sep. 30, 2014
Jun. 30, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Other operating revenues $ 38,500,000 $ 39,400,000 $ 56,800,000          
(Payments) proceeds related to 2013 sale of towers, net (39,618,000) 721,404,000 0          
Bank Loans 343,915,000 444,268,000     343,915,000     444,268,000
Brazil Bank Loan Floating Interest Rate 113.90%       113.90%      
Brazil Bank Loan Borrowing Rate 13.30% 11.30%     13.30%     11.30%
Corporate Aircraft Capital Lease 0 35,736,000     0     35,736,000
Other 1,254,000 3,901,000     1,254,000     3,901,000
Total debt, excluding current portion 1,512,392,000 5,793,471,000     1,512,392,000     5,793,471,000
Less: current portion (777,569,000) (96,839,000)     (777,569,000)     (96,839,000)
Total debt 734,823,000 5,696,632,000     734,823,000     5,696,632,000
Brazil CDB Loan Repayment Period seven              
Mexico Vendor Financing [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Term of debt       ten        
Debt Instrument, Borrowing Period       three        
Debt Instrument, Repayment Term       seven        
Long-term debt, percentage bearing variable interest, percentage rate 3.06% 3.05%     3.06%     3.05%
Loan Agreement Maximum Borrowing Capacity       375,000,000        
Brazil Vendor Financing [Domain]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Effective interest rate on convertible notes 3.16% 3.15%     3.16%     3.15%
Loan Agreement Maximum Borrowing Capacity       500,000,000        
Brazil CDB Loan Floating Interest Rate       2.90%        
Brazil CDB Loan Borrowing Period three              
NII Capital Corp [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Senior notes, net 0 2,729,321,000     0     2,729,321,000
NII International Telecom [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Senior notes, net 0 1,609,962,000     0     1,609,962,000
MEXICO                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Sale Leaseback Transaction, Deferred Gain, Gross           179,600,000    
Present Value of Future Minimum Lease Payments, Sale Leaseback Transactions           112,400,000    
Towers Sold         1,483      
(Payments) proceeds related to 2013 sale of towers, net           374,300,000    
Equipment Financing 322,993,000 300,832,000     322,993,000     300,832,000
Capital lease and tower financing obligations 264,130,000 194,227,000     264,130,000     194,227,000
BRAZIL                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Present Value of Future Minimum Lease Payments, Sale Leaseback Transactions 186,500,000       186,500,000      
Towers Sold         1,940      
(Payments) proceeds related to 2013 sale of towers, net         155,500,000   18,600,000 348,000,000
Bank Loans 196,900,000       196,900,000      
Equipment Financing 366,937,000 352,725,000     366,937,000     352,725,000
Capital lease and tower financing obligations 213,163,000 122,499,000     213,163,000     122,499,000
Financial Institution Two [Member] | Brazil Spectrum License Financing [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Spectrum financing 341,200,000       341,200,000      
Debt instrument factor applied to variable rate 115.00%       115.00%      
Long-term debt, percentage bearing variable interest, percentage rate 13.40% 11.39%     13.40%     11.39%
Financial Institution One [Member] | Brazil Spectrum License Financing [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Spectrum financing $ 351,800,000       $ 351,800,000      
LIBOR [Member] | Mexico Vendor Financing [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate 2.80%