2.2.0.25truefalse40202 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements (Fair Value on Recurring Basis) (Details)truefalseIn Thousandsfalse1falsefalseUSDtruefalse{nihd_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis} : Level 1 [Member] {us-gaap_FairValueOptionQualitativeDisclosuresRelatedToElectionByEligibleItemOrGroupAxis} : Available-for-Sale Securities [Member] {dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Nextel Brazil [Member] 3/31/2011 USD ($) $As_Of_3_31_2011_dei_LegalEntityAxis_nihd_NextelBrazilMember_nihd_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_us-gaap_FairValueOptionQualitativeDisclosuresRelatedToElectionByEligibleItemOrGroupAxis_us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037016instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseLevel 1 [Member]nihd_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Membernihd_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseAvailable-for-Sale Securities [Member]us-gaap_FairValueOptionQualitativeDisclosuresRelatedToElectionByEligibleItemOrGroupAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMemberus-gaap_FairValueOptionQualitativeDisclosuresRelatedToElectionByEligibleItemOrGroupAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseNextel Brazil [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldinihd_NextelBrazilMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDtruefalse{nihd_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis} : Level 1 [Member] {us-gaap_FairValueOptionQualitativeDisclosuresRelatedToElectionByEligibleItemOrGroupAxis} : Available-for-Sale Securities [Member] {dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Nextel Brazil [Member] 12/31/2010 USD ($) $As_Of_12_31_2010_dei_LegalEntityAxis_nihd_NextelBrazilMember_nihd_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_us-gaap_FairValueOptionQualitativeDisclosuresRelatedToElectionByEligibleItemOrGroupAxis_us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037016instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseLevel 1 [Member]nihd_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Membernihd_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseAvailable-for-Sale Securities [Member]us-gaap_FairValueOptionQualitativeDisclosuresRelatedToElectionByEligibleItemOrGroupAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMemberus-gaap_FairValueOptionQualitativeDisclosuresRelatedToElectionByEligibleItemOrGroupAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseNextel Brazil [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldinihd_NextelBrazilMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$1false0us-gaap_FairValueMeasuredOnRecurringBasisInvestmentsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse9042600090426falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse5077800050778falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which may include an individual asset, measured at fair value on a recurring basis.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph a falsefalseShort-term investments2false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.nii.com/role/disclosurefairvaluemeasurementsfairvalueonrecurringbasisdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDtruefalse{nihd_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis} : Level 1 [Member] {us-gaap_FairValueOptionQualitativeDisclosuresRelatedToElectionByEligibleItemOrGroupAxis} : Available-for-Sale Securities [Member] {dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Nextel Brazil [Member] 3/31/2011 USD ($) $As_Of_3_31_2011_dei_LegalEntityAxis_nihd_NextelBrazilMember_nihd_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_us-gaap_FairValueOptionQualitativeDisclosuresRelatedToElectionByEligibleItemOrGroupAxis_us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037016instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseLevel 1 [Member]nihd_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Membernihd_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseAvailable-for-Sale Securities [Member]us-gaap_FairValueOptionQualitativeDisclosuresRelatedToElectionByEligibleItemOrGroupAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMemberus-gaap_FairValueOptionQualitativeDisclosuresRelatedToElectionByEligibleItemOrGroupAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseNextel Brazil [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldinihd_NextelBrazilMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDtruefalse{nihd_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis} : Level 1 [Member] {us-gaap_FairValueOptionQualitativeDisclosuresRelatedToElectionByEligibleItemOrGroupAxis} : Available-for-Sale Securities [Member] {dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Nextel Brazil [Member] 12/31/2010 USD ($) $As_Of_12_31_2010_dei_LegalEntityAxis_nihd_NextelBrazilMember_nihd_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_us-gaap_FairValueOptionQualitativeDisclosuresRelatedToElectionByEligibleItemOrGroupAxis_us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037016instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseLevel 1 [Member]nihd_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Membernihd_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseAvailable-for-Sale Securities [Member]us-gaap_FairValueOptionQualitativeDisclosuresRelatedToElectionByEligibleItemOrGroupAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMemberus-gaap_FairValueOptionQualitativeDisclosuresRelatedToElectionByEligibleItemOrGroupAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseNextel Brazil [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldinihd_NextelBrazilMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseLevel 1 [Member]3false0us-gaap_FairValueMeasuredOnRecurringBasisInvestmentsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse9042600090426falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse5077800050778falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which may include an individual asset, measured at fair value on a recurring basis.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph a falsefalseShort-term investments4false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.nii.com/role/disclosurefairvaluemeasurementsfairvalueonrecurringbasisdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{nihd_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis} : Level 2 [Member] {us-gaap_FairValueOptionQualitativeDisclosuresRelatedToElectionByEligibleItemOrGroupAxis} : Available-for-Sale Securities [Member] {dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Nextel Brazil [Member] 3/31/2011 USD ($) $As_Of_3_31_2011_dei_LegalEntityAxis_nihd_NextelBrazilMember_nihd_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_us-gaap_FairValueOptionQualitativeDisclosuresRelatedToElectionByEligibleItemOrGroupAxis_us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037016instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseLevel 2 [Member]nihd_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Membernihd_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseAvailable-for-Sale Securities [Member]us-gaap_FairValueOptionQualitativeDisclosuresRelatedToElectionByEligibleItemOrGroupAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMemberus-gaap_FairValueOptionQualitativeDisclosuresRelatedToElectionByEligibleItemOrGroupAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseNextel Brazil [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldinihd_NextelBrazilMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseLevel 2 [Member]5false0us-gaap_FairValueMeasuredOnRecurringBasisInvestmentsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00 falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which may include an individual asset, measured at fair value on a recurring basis.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph a falsefalseShort-term investments6false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.nii.com/role/disclosurefairvaluemeasurementsfairvalueonrecurringbasisdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{nihd_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis} : Level 3 [Member] {us-gaap_FairValueOptionQualitativeDisclosuresRelatedToElectionByEligibleItemOrGroupAxis} : Available-for-Sale Securities [Member] {dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Nextel Brazil [Member] 3/31/2011 USD ($) $As_Of_3_31_2011_dei_LegalEntityAxis_nihd_NextelBrazilMember_nihd_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member_us-gaap_FairValueOptionQualitativeDisclosuresRelatedToElectionByEligibleItemOrGroupAxis_us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037016instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseLevel 3 [Member]nihd_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Membernihd_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseAvailable-for-Sale Securities [Member]us-gaap_FairValueOptionQualitativeDisclosuresRelatedToElectionByEligibleItemOrGroupAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMemberus-gaap_FairValueOptionQualitativeDisclosuresRelatedToElectionByEligibleItemOrGroupAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseNextel Brazil [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldinihd_NextelBrazilMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseLevel 3 [Member]7false0us-gaap_FairValueMeasuredOnRecurringBasisInvestmentsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00 falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which may include an individual asset, measured at fair value on a recurring basis.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph a falsefalseShort-term investments27Fair Value Measurements (Fair Value on Recurring Basis) (Details) (Available-for-Sale Securities [Member], Nextel Brazil [Member], USD $)ThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue