Revenue Recognition (Revenue Categories) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2022
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	$ 30,139	$ 29,712
Total Service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	24,617	23,999
Wireless service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	16,074	15,214
Business service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	5,200	5,478
Broadband
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	2,527	2,355
Legacy voice and data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	479	549
Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	337	403
Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	5,522	5,713
Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	30,035	29,566
Operating Segments | Communications
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	29,152	28,876
Operating Segments | Communications | Mobility
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	20,582	20,075
Operating Segments | Communications | Mobility | Total Service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	15,483	14,724
Operating Segments | Communications | Mobility | Wireless service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	15,483	14,724
Operating Segments | Communications | Mobility | Business service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Communications | Mobility | Broadband
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Communications | Mobility | Legacy voice and data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Communications | Mobility | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Communications | Mobility | Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	5,099	5,351
Operating Segments | Communications | Business Wireline
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	5,331	5,640
Operating Segments | Communications | Business Wireline | Total Service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	5,200	5,478
Operating Segments | Communications | Business Wireline | Wireless service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Communications | Business Wireline | Business service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	5,200	5,478
Operating Segments | Communications | Business Wireline | Broadband
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Communications | Business Wireline | Legacy voice and data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Communications | Business Wireline | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Communications | Business Wireline | Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	131	162
Operating Segments | Communications | Consumer Wireline
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	3,239	3,161
Operating Segments | Communications | Consumer Wireline | Total Service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	3,239	3,161
Operating Segments | Communications | Consumer Wireline | Wireless service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Communications | Consumer Wireline | Business service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Communications | Consumer Wireline | Broadband
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	2,527	2,355
Operating Segments | Communications | Consumer Wireline | Legacy voice and data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	396	460
Operating Segments | Communications | Consumer Wireline | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	316	346
Operating Segments | Communications | Consumer Wireline | Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Latin America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	883	690
Operating Segments | Latin America | Total Service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	591	490
Operating Segments | Latin America | Wireless service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	591	490
Operating Segments | Latin America | Business service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Latin America | Broadband
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Latin America | Legacy voice and data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Latin America | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Latin America | Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	292	200
Corporate
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	104	146
Corporate | Total Service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	104	146
Corporate | Wireless service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0
Corporate | Business service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0
Corporate | Broadband
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0
Corporate | Legacy voice and data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	83	89
Corporate | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	21	57
Corporate | Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	$ 0	$ 0