2.2.0.25truefalse40304 - Disclosure - Debt (Debt and Equity Components Recognized for Convertible Notes) (Details)truefalseIn Thousandsfalse1falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : 3.125% Convertible Notes Due 2012 [Member] 3/31/2011 USD ($) $As_Of_3_31_2011_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_nihd_ThreePointOneTwoFivePercentConvertibleNotesDueTwoZeroOneTwoMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037016instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalse3.125% Convertible Notes Due 2012 [Member]us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldinihd_ThreePointOneTwoFivePercentConvertibleNotesDueTwoZeroOneTwoMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : 3.125% Convertible Notes Due 2012 [Member] 12/31/2010 USD ($) $As_Of_12_31_2010_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_nihd_ThreePointOneTwoFivePercentConvertibleNotesDueTwoZeroOneTwoMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037016instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalse3.125% Convertible Notes Due 2012 [Member]us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldinihd_ThreePointOneTwoFivePercentConvertibleNotesDueTwoZeroOneTwoMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2false0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentPrincipalOutstandingus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse11000000001100000falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse11000000001100000falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of outstanding principal due under the debt instrument at the end of the reporting period.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number APB14-1 -Paragraph 31 -Subparagraph b falsefalsePrincipal amount of convertible notes3false0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse4709100047091falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse5676400056764falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of debt discount that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number APB14-1 -Paragraph 31 -Subparagraph b Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 21 -Paragraph 16, 20 falsefalseUnamortized discount on convertible notes4false0nihd_DebtInstrumentCarryingValuenihdfalsedebitinstantDebt Instrument Carrying Valuefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse10529090001052909falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse10432360001043236falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryDebt Instrument Carrying ValueNo authoritative reference available.falsefalseNet carrying amount of convertible notes5false0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleCarryingAmountOfTheEquityComponentus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse193941000193941falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse193941000193941falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe carrying amount of the equity component of convertible debt which may be settled in cash upon conversion.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number APB14-1 -Paragraph 31 -Subparagraph a falsefalseCarrying amount of equity component24Debt (Debt and Equity Components Recognized for Convertible Notes) (Details) (3.125% Convertible Notes Due 2012 [Member], USD $)ThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue