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Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
|
12 Months Ended |
|
Dec. 31, 2014
|
Dec. 31, 2013
|
Dec. 31, 2012
|
| Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
| Net loss |
$ (1,957,698) |
$ (1,649,599) |
$ (765,249) |
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities |
1,391,565 |
1,621,281 |
1,328,968 |
| Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities |
(628,716) |
(192,451) |
353,183 |
| Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
| Purchase of investments |
(1,637,913) |
(2,360,529) |
(1,678,918) |
| Proceeds from sales of investments |
2,092,459 |
1,942,886 |
1,813,783 |
| Change in restricted cash and escrow accounts |
(137,827) |
(39,436) |
(4,087) |
| Transfers from restricted cash |
|
2,273 |
7,882 |
| Proceeds from 2013 sale of towers, net |
|
721,404 |
0 |
| Investment in subsidiaries |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities |
38,098 |
(207) |
(1,018) |
| Intercompany dividends |
|
0 |
0 |
| Net cash used in investing activities |
(347,538) |
(177,612) |
(1,055,160) |
| Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] |
|
|
|
| Repayments and purchases of convertible notes |
0 |
0 |
(212,782) |
| Other, net |
(632) |
(27,950) |
(124,723) |
| Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities |
(128,272) |
776,591 |
(238,295) |
| Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents |
(1,156,735) |
365,382 |
(917,202) |
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year |
1,730,335 |
1,364,953 |
2,282,155 |
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of year |
573,600 |
1,730,335 |
1,364,953 |
| NII Holdings Inc. (Parent) [Member] |
|
|
|
| Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
| Net loss |
(1,957,698) |
(1,649,599) |
(765,249) |
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities |
1,861,773 |
1,477,932 |
768,542 |
| Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities |
(95,925) |
(171,667) |
3,293 |
| Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
| Purchase of investments |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Proceeds from sales of investments |
0 |
0 |
224,330 |
| Change in restricted cash and escrow accounts |
25,300 |
(15,050) |
0 |
| Transfers from restricted cash |
|
0 |
0 |
| Proceeds from 2013 sale of towers, net |
|
0 |
0 |
| Investment in subsidiaries |
(180,712) |
(191,526) |
(318,949) |
| Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities |
(1,856) |
(545) |
0 |
| Intercompany dividends |
|
0 |
0 |
| Net cash used in investing activities |
(153,556) |
(206,031) |
(94,619) |
| Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] |
|
|
|
| Repayments and purchases of convertible notes |
0 |
0 |
(212,782) |
| Other, net |
(86) |
(1,010) |
(3,228) |
| Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities |
(86) |
(1,010) |
(216,010) |
| Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents |
(249,567) |
(378,708) |
(307,336) |
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year |
356,314 |
735,022 |
1,042,358 |
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of year |
106,747 |
356,314 |
735,022 |
| NII Holdings,Inc. (Parent and Guarantor) [Member] |
|
|
|
| Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
| Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities |
$ (1,856) |
|
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