Intangible assets (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Intangible Assets [Abstract]

Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets

	ESTIMATED USEFUL LIFE
Property, plant and equipment
Network infrastructure and equipment	2 to 40 years
Buildings	5 to 50 years
Finite-life intangible assets
Software	2 to 12 years
Customer relationships	3 to 26 years
Program and feature film rights	Up to 5 years

		FINITE-LIFE										INDEFINITE-LIFE
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017	NOTE	SOFTWARE		CUSTOMER RELATION- SHIPS		PROGRAM AND FEATURE FILM RIGHTS		OTHER		TOTAL		BRANDS	SPECTRUM AND OTHER LICENCES	BROADCAST LICENCES		TOTAL		TOTAL INTANGIBLE ASSETS
COST
January 1, 2017		7,861		1,159		682		350		10,052		2,333	3,288	2,322		7,943		17,995
Additions		344		31		1,009		7		1,391		—	—	—		—		1,391
Acquired through business combinations		98		830		—		103		1,031		110	246	—		356		1,387
Transfers		407		—		—		—		407		—	—	(1	)	(1	)	406
Retirements and disposals		(21	)	(20	)	—		(55	)	(96	)	—	—	—		—		(96	)
Impairment losses recognized in earnings	8	—		—		—		(12	)	(12	)	—	—	(70	)	(70	)	(82	)
Amortization included in operating costs		—		—		(950	)	—		(950	)	—	—	—		—		(950	)
December 31, 2017		8,689		2,000		741		393		11,823		2,443	3,534	2,251		8,228		20,051
ACCUMULATED AMORTIZATION
January 1, 2017		5,316		513		—		168		5,997		—	—	—		—		5,997
Amortization		672		102		—		39		813		—	—	—		—		813
Retirements and disposals		(21	)	—		—		(52	)	(73	)	—	—	—		—		(73	)
Other		9		—		—		—		9		—	—	—		—		9
December 31, 2017		5,976		615		—		155		6,746		—	—	—		—		6,746
NET CARRYING AMOUNT
January 1, 2017		2,545		646		682		182		4,055		2,333	3,288	2,322		7,943		11,998
December 31, 2017		2,713		1,385		741		238		5,077		2,443	3,534	2,251		8,228		13,305

		FINITE-LIFE								INDEFINITE-LIFE
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016	NOTE	SOFTWARE		CUSTOMER RELATION- SHIPS	PROGRAM AND FEATURE FILM RIGHTS		OTHER	TOTAL		BRANDS	SPECTRUM AND OTHER LICENCES	BROADCAST LICENCES		TOTAL		TOTAL INTANGIBLE ASSETS
COST
January 1, 2016		6,906		866	577		325	8,674		2,333	3,267	2,334		7,934		16,608
Additions		412		—	973		17	1,402		—	21	—		21		1,423
Acquired through business combinations		—		293	—		8	301		—	—	—		—		301
Transfers		615		—	—		—	615		—	—	—		—		615
Retirements and disposals		(72	)	—	—		—	(72	)	—	—	—		—		(72	)
Business dispositions		—		—	—		—	—		—	—	(4	)	(4	)	(4	)
Impairment losses recognized in earnings	8	—		—	—		—	—		—	—	(8	)	(8	)	(8	)
Amortization included in operating costs		—		—	(868	)	—	(868	)	—	—	—		—		(868	)
December 31, 2016		7,861		1,159	682		350	10,052		2,333	3,288	2,322		7,943		17,995
ACCUMULATED AMORTIZATION
January 1, 2016		4,824		466	—		142	5,432		—	—	—		—		5,432
Amortization		558		47	—		26	631		—	—	—		—		631
Retirements and disposals		(69	)	—	—		—	(69	)	—	—	—		—		(69	)
Other		3		—	—		—	3		—	—	—		—		3
December 31, 2016		5,316		513	—		168	5,997		—	—	—		—		5,997
NET CARRYING AMOUNT
January 1, 2016		2,082		400	577		183	3,242		2,333	3,267	2,334		7,934		11,176
December 31, 2016		2,545		646	682		182	4,055		2,333	3,288	2,322		7,943		11,998