2.2.0.25truefalse40701 - Disclosure - Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Narrative) (Details)truefalseIn Thousands, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse3/31/2011 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $As_Of_3_31_2011http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037016instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit14Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2010 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $As_Of_12_31_2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037016instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit14Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_AssetsSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchaseAxis} : 7.625% Senior Notes [Member] 3/31/2011 USD ($) $As_Of_3_31_2011_us-gaap_AssetsSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchaseAxis_nihd_SevenPointSixTwoFivePercentageSeniorNotesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037016instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalse7.625% Senior Notes [Member]us-gaap_AssetsSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchaseAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldinihd_SevenPointSixTwoFivePercentageSeniorNotesMemberus-gaap_AssetsSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchaseAxisexplicitMemberUnit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : 10.0% and 8.875% Senior Notes Due 2019 and 2016 [Member] 12/31/2009 USD ($) $As_Of_12_31_2009_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_nihd_TenPointZeroPercentAndEightPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoZeroOneSixTwoZeroOneNineMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037016instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalse10.0% and 8.875% Senior Notes Due 2019 and 2016 [Member]us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldinihd_TenPointZeroPercentAndEightPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoZeroOneSixTwoZeroOneNineMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$5falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : 8.875% Senior Notes Due 2019 [Member] 3/31/2011 As_Of_3_31_2011_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_nihd_EightPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandNineteenMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037016instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalse8.875% Senior Notes Due 2019 [Member]us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldinihd_EightPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandNineteenMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli06falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : 10.0% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member] 3/31/2011 As_Of_3_31_2011_us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis_nihd_TenPointZeroPercentSeniorNotesDueTwoZeroOneSixMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037016instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalse10.0% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldinihd_TenPointZeroPercentSeniorNotesDueTwoZeroOneSixMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli02false0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentageus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truetruefalse0.076250.07625falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truetruefalse0.088750.08875falsefalsefalsetruefalse6truetruefalse0.10.1falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureInterest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 falsefalseDebt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage3false0us-gaap_SeniorNotesus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse20301480002030148falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse12795240001279524falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse750000000750000falsetruefalsetruefalse4truefalsefalse13000000001300000falsetruefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryIncluding the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of Notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer). Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 9 falsefalseSenior notes4false0nihd_DebtMaturityDatenihdfalsenainstantDebt Maturity Datefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse0020212021falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse0020192019falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse0020162016falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherus-types:durationStringItemTypenormalizedstringDebt Maturity DateNo authoritative reference available.falsefalseDebt Maturity Date63Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)ThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue