Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Revenues:
Products	$ 22	$ 501
Services	5	119
Total revenues	27	620
Cost of revenues:
Products	23	486
Services	18	46
Total cost of revenues	41	532
Gross profit (loss)	(14)	88
Selling, general and administrative expense	157	515
Research and development expense		107
Loss on sales and impairments of assets - net	3	3
Other operating income - net (note 7)	(57)	(281)
Operating loss	(117)	(256)
Other income (expense) - net (note 7)	(45)	57
Interest expense (contractual interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 was $326 and $314, respectively)
Long-term debt	(324)	(304)
Other		(2)
Loss from continuing operations before reorganization items, income taxes and equity in net loss of associated companies and EMEA Subsidiaries	(486)	(505)
Reorganization items - net (note 6)	4,187	(3,694)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, and equity in net loss of associated companies and EMEA Subsidiaries	3,701	(4,199)
Income tax benefit (expense)	(9)	40
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before equity in net loss of associated companies and EMEA Subsidiaries	3,692	(4,159)
Equity in net loss of associated companies - net of tax		(1)
Equity in net loss of EMEA Subsidiaries (note 21)		(50)
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	3,692	(4,210)
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations - net of tax	(1)	24
Net earnings (loss)	3,691	(4,186)
Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(21)	(14)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Nortel Networks Corporation	$ 3,670	$ (4,200)
Basic earnings (loss) per common share - continuing operations	$ 7.36	$ (8.47)
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share - continuing operations	$ 6.91	$ (8.47)
Total basic earnings (loss) per common share	$ 7.36	$ (8.42)
Total diluted earnings (loss) per common share	$ 6.91	$ (8.42)