Pre-Petition Date Cost Reduction Plans	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Pre-Petition Date Cost Reduction Plans [Abstract]
Pre-Petition Date Cost Reduction Plans	8. Pre-Petition Date cost reduction plans As a result of the Creditor Protection Proceedings, Nortel ceased taking any further actions under the previously announced workforce and cost reduction plans as of January 14, 2009. Any revisions to actions taken up to that date under previously announced workforce and cost reduction plans will continue to be accounted for under such plans, and will be classified in cost of revenues, SG&A, and R&D as applicable. Nortel's contractual obligations are subject to re-evaluation in connection with the Creditor Protection Proceedings and, as a result, expected cash outlays disclosed below relating to contract settlement and lease costs are subject to change. As well, Nortel is not following its pre-Petition Date practices with respect to the payment of severance in jurisdictions under the Creditor Protection Proceedings. During the third quarter of 2011, Nortel filed a motion with the Canadian Court to approve a methodology that includes, among other matters, an amount for former employees' severance claims. The motion was approved on October 6, 2011. The workforce provision was adjusted to reflect the severance claims amount under the approved methodology. During the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, there was a charge of $4 and recovery of $5, respectively, related to Nortel's Pre-Petition Date cost reduction plans. As of December 31, 2011, the pre-petition cost reduction provision of $34 represents $23 in accrued severance claims for former employees and $11 in contract settlement and lease costs.

8. Pre-Petition Date cost reduction plans

As a result of the Creditor Protection Proceedings, Nortel ceased taking any further actions under the previously announced workforce and cost reduction plans as of January 14, 2009. Any revisions to actions taken up to that date under previously announced workforce and cost reduction plans will continue to be accounted for under such plans, and will be classified in cost of revenues, SG&A, and R&D as applicable. Nortel's contractual obligations are subject to re-evaluation in connection with the Creditor Protection Proceedings and, as a result, expected cash outlays disclosed below relating to contract settlement and lease costs are subject to change. As well, Nortel is not following its pre-Petition Date practices with respect to the payment of severance in jurisdictions under the Creditor Protection Proceedings.

During the third quarter of 2011, Nortel filed a motion with the Canadian Court to approve a methodology that includes, among other matters, an amount for former employees' severance claims. The motion was approved on October 6, 2011. The workforce provision was adjusted to reflect the severance claims amount under the approved methodology. During the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, there was a charge of $4 and recovery of $5, respectively, related to Nortel's Pre-Petition Date cost reduction plans. As of December 31, 2011, the pre-petition cost reduction provision of $34 represents $23 in accrued severance claims for former employees and $11 in contract settlement and lease costs.