Represents the amount of interest expense paid for each $1000 of the debt instrument's principal amount.

Name:	lvlt_DebtInstrumentConvertibleInterestExpensePaidPerPrincipalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	lvlt
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The payment of interest amount that would have been due from conversion through maturity date.

+ Details

Name:	lvlt_DebtInstrumentConvertibleInterestPaid
Namespace Prefix:	lvlt
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of shares converted for each $1000 of the debt instrument's principal amount.

+ Details

Name:	lvlt_DebtInstrumentConvertibleNumberOfSharesPerPrincipalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	lvlt
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the principal amount (as the denominator) used for the conversion of the debt instrument.

+ Details

Name:	lvlt_DebtInstrumentConvertiblePerPrincipalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	lvlt
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the principal amount of the convertible debt after partial conversion.

+ Details

Name:	lvlt_DebtInstrumentPrincipalAmountAfterConversion
Namespace Prefix:	lvlt
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of debt for which the entity announced the marketing during the period.

+ Details

Name:	lvlt_DebtMarketingAnnounced
Namespace Prefix:	lvlt
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the targeted borrowing capacity under the credit facility after the proceeds from the sale of new debt reduce the necessity to utilize the facility for borrowings.

+ Details

Name:	lvlt_LineOfCreditFacilityBorrowingCapacityAfterReductionFromProceedsOfNewDebt
Namespace Prefix:	lvlt
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of shares issued in exchange for the original debt being converted in a noncash (or part noncash) transaction. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or payments in the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 32
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4304-108586

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4332-108586

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of the original debt being converted in a noncash (or part noncash) transaction. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtAmount1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Increase for additional borrowings on the debt instrument during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 4
-Section 08
-Paragraph f

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(f))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentIncreaseAdditionalBorrowings
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Subsequent Event (Details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended	1 Months Ended				1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
Subsequent Event (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011 Senior Notes due 2019 (8.125%) Global Crossing Issuance of debt	Jul. 31, 2011 Global Crossing Senior secured term loan Issuance of debt	Jul. 31, 2011 Global Crossing Senior secured term loan facility Issuance of debt	Jul. 31, 2011 Global Crossing Senior unsecured term loan facility Issuance of debt	Jul. 31, 2011 Convertible Senior Notes due 2013 (15.0%) Conversion of debt	Jul. 15, 2011 Convertible Senior Notes due 2013 (15.0%) Conversion of debt	Jul. 31, 2011 Convertible Senior Notes due 2013 (15.0%)	Jun. 30, 2011 Convertible Senior Notes due 2013 (15.0%)	Jun. 30, 2011 Senior Notes due 2019 (8.125%)	Jun. 30, 2011 Senior Notes due 2019 (8.125%) Global Crossing
Subsequent Events
Debt marketing announced by Company			$ 650,000,000
Bridge loan, financing commitment after reduction from proceeds of new debt				0	0
Conversion of debt, amount	295,000,000							128,000,000
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)							15.00%		15.00%	8.125%	8.125%
Shares issued upon conversion (in shares)						71,000,000
Number of shares converted for each $1000 principal amount (in shares)							556
Principal amount used for conversion of debt instrument							1,000
Payment of interest expense from conversion till maturity							29,000,000
Interest expenses paid for each $1000 principal amount						225
Remaining principal amount outstanding							272,000,000
Principal amount of debt issued		$ 600,000,000									$ 600,000,000