Property, plant and equipment (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	$ 1,110	$ 1,110	$ 1,259
Accumulated depreciation	(363)	(363)	(251)
Property, plant and equipment, net	747	747	1,008
Depreciation		157	61
Impairment loss of property, plant and equipment		271	0	$ 0
Deferred contract cost assets	5	5
Impairment expense		150
Prepaid Insurance	$ 2	2
Future insurance premiums due		3
Number of buildings	1
Building Sale	$ 68
Gain (Loss) on sale of properties	33
Satellites
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	397	397	541
Equipment
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	229	229	268
Leasehold improvements
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	97	97	80
Computer hardware
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	92	92	88
Land and Land improvements
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	88	88	108
Buildings
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	46	46	91
Furniture and fixtures
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	19	19	11
Construction in process
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	$ 142	$ 142	$ 72