Balance Sheet Components - Net Book Value of Intangible Assets by Geographic Regions (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible assets, net beginning balance	$ 2,170,945	$ 2,102,389	$ 2,333,296
ASC 842 adoption adjustment			(23,205)
Intangible assets acquired during period			1,568
Other asset acquisition		64,905
Amortization of intangibles	(205,484)	(199,047)	(196,278)
Impact of foreign currency exchange	(45,666)	45,817	(9,469)
Intangible assets, net ending balance	1,935,267	2,170,945	2,102,389
NY12 Data Center
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Asset sales - NY12 data center			(8,412)
Switch AMS1
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible assets acquired during period			4,889
Axtel
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible assets acquired during period		22,750
Packet Host, Inc.
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible assets acquired during period		58,500
Bell
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible assets acquired during period		75,631
GPX India
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible assets acquired during period	15,472
Americas
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible assets, net beginning balance	1,463,089	1,443,292	1,578,971
ASC 842 adoption adjustment			(108)
Intangible assets acquired during period			0
Other asset acquisition		0
Amortization of intangibles	(133,289)	(133,608)	(125,390)
Impact of foreign currency exchange	(2,047)	(3,476)	(1,769)
Intangible assets, net ending balance	1,327,753	1,463,089	1,443,292
Americas | NY12 Data Center
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Asset sales - NY12 data center			(8,412)
Americas | Switch AMS1
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible assets acquired during period			0
Americas | Axtel
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible assets acquired during period		22,750
Americas | Packet Host, Inc.
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible assets acquired during period		58,500
Americas | Bell
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible assets acquired during period		75,631
Americas | GPX India
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible assets acquired during period	0
EMEA
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible assets, net beginning balance	518,027	466,564	543,860
ASC 842 adoption adjustment			(20,692)
Intangible assets acquired during period			1,096
Other asset acquisition		64,905
Amortization of intangibles	(55,807)	(49,417)	(54,432)
Impact of foreign currency exchange	(30,278)	35,975	(8,157)
Intangible assets, net ending balance	431,942	518,027	466,564
EMEA | NY12 Data Center
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Asset sales - NY12 data center			0
EMEA | Switch AMS1
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible assets acquired during period			4,889
EMEA | Axtel
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible assets acquired during period		0
EMEA | Packet Host, Inc.
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible assets acquired during period		0
EMEA | Bell
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible assets acquired during period		0
EMEA | GPX India
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible assets acquired during period	0
Asia-Pacific
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible assets, net beginning balance	189,829	192,533	210,465
ASC 842 adoption adjustment			(2,405)
Intangible assets acquired during period			472
Other asset acquisition		0
Amortization of intangibles	(16,388)	(16,022)	(16,456)
Impact of foreign currency exchange	(13,341)	13,318	457
Intangible assets, net ending balance	175,572	189,829	192,533
Asia-Pacific | NY12 Data Center
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Asset sales - NY12 data center			0
Asia-Pacific | Switch AMS1
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible assets acquired during period			$ 0
Asia-Pacific | Axtel
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible assets acquired during period		0
Asia-Pacific | Packet Host, Inc.
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible assets acquired during period		0
Asia-Pacific | Bell
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible assets acquired during period		$ 0
Asia-Pacific | GPX India
Finite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Intangible assets acquired during period	$ 15,472