Supplementary Financial Information - Balance Sheet Disclosures (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Other current assets:
Accounts receivable, net	$ 86,736	[1]	$ 50,750	[1]
Prepaid expenses	28,327		27,493
Other	19,394		12,767
Total Other Current Assets	134,457		91,010
Property and equipment, net:
Network equipment	3,246,027	[2]	3,095,793	[2]
Computer hardware and software	455,873	[2]	342,972	[2]
Construction-in-progress	99,705	[2]	146,973	[2]
Other	111,510	[2]	108,273	[2]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	3,913,115		3,694,011
Accumulated depreciation	(1,955,741)		(1,657,366)
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	1,957,374		2,036,645
Intangible assets, net:
Customer relationships	57,782		57,782
Trademarks	37,000		37,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	94,782		94,782
Intangible assets, net	41,477		64,843
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	306,881		205,824
Accrued payroll and related benefits	66,229		55,290
Other accrued liabilities	87,168		85,755
Total Current Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities	460,278		346,869
Other current liabilities:
Accrued sales, telecommunications, property and other taxes payable	22,380		44,942
Accrued interest	58,553		40,804
Other	17,863		7,424
Other current liabilities	256,357		221,077
Customer Relationships [Member]
Intangible assets, net:
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets	(33,704)		(12,980)
Trademarks [Member]
Intangible assets, net:
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets	(19,601)		(16,959)
Nonsoftware Service, Support and Maintenance Arrangement [Member]
Other current liabilities:
Deferred service revenue	113,768	[3]	101,343	[3]
Distributor Arrangement [Member]
Other current liabilities:
Deferred service revenue	43,793	[4]	26,564	[4]
Assets Held under Capital Leases [Member]
Property and equipment, net:
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	30,600		8,500
Accumulated depreciation	$ (18,500)		$ (4,500)

[1] Accounts receivable, net, consists primarily of amounts billed to third-party dealers for devices and accessories and amounts due from service providers related to interconnect and roaming agreements, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts.

[2] As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, approximately $30.6 million and $8.5 million of assets were held by the Company under capital lease arrangements, respectively. Accumulated amortization relating to these assets totaled $18.5 million and $4.5 million as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

[3] Deferred service revenue consists primarily of cash received from customers in advance of their service period.

[4] Deferred equipment revenue relates to devices sold to third-party dealers which have not yet been purchased and activated by customers.