Commitments and Contingencies (Details)										3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		144 Months Ended
	Jul. 26, 2019 USD ($) item employee	Jun. 07, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 06, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	May 11, 2017 USD ($)	Jul. 01, 2016 USD ($)	Aug. 18, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 29, 2014 USD ($) segment	Mar. 09, 2012 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) item store	Dec. 31, 2008 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Apr. 13, 2017 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Commitment and Contingencies
Total											$ 19,887,113,000		$ 19,887,113,000
2020											3,314,864,000		3,314,864,000
2021											2,886,181,000		2,886,181,000
2022											2,719,560,000		2,719,560,000
2023											2,020,662,000		2,020,662,000
2024											3,448,257,000		3,448,257,000
Thereafter											5,497,589,000		5,497,589,000
Unrecognized tax benefits											674,207,000		674,207,000	$ 385,394,000	$ 393,916,000		$ 358,023,000
Payment to acquire certain wireless licenses and related assets													21,000,000,000
FCC authorizations											$ 25,779,503,000		$ 25,779,503,000	24,736,961,000
Number of spectrum bands | item	4
Interest rate (as a percent)											7.75%		7.75%
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Noncontrolling Interest in Variable Interest Entity											$ 10,000,000,000		$ 10,000,000,000
Capitalized interest on FCC authorizations [Member]
Commitment and Contingencies
FCC authorizations											$ 4,638,519,000		4,638,519,000	$ 3,667,247,000
Asset Purchase Agreement
Sprint Asset Acquisition
Purchase price	$ 1,400,000,000
Period after provisioning new or existing customers of prepaid business	15 days
Period after final judgment	5 days
Number of employees expected to transfer | employee	480
Right to terminate agreement, period	12 months
Right to terminate agreement after closing of merger period	90 days
Sellers right to terminate agreement, period	90 days
Spectrum Purchase Agreement
Commitment and Contingencies
Period within which divesture to be completed after receipt of FCC approval											3 years
Threshold divesture deadline extension period											5 days
Period of spectrum divestiture extend											60 days
Spectrum lease back period											3 years
Decrease in purchase price due to failure to complete rebanding activities											$ 72,000,000
Damages sought value in case of breach of agreement											72,000,000
Sprint Asset Acquisition
Purchase price	$ 3,590,000,000
Maximum
Commitment and Contingencies
Expected expenditures for wireless projects											$ 500,000,000		500,000,000
Programming Contracts term											10 years
Minimum
Commitment and Contingencies
Expected expenditures for wireless projects											$ 250,000,000		250,000,000
Programming Contracts term											1 year
MVDDS Licenses
Commitment and Contingencies
Number of geographical license areas | item											82
MVDDS Licenses | Maximum
Commitment and Contingencies
Number of geographical license areas | item											214
LMDS Licenses
Commitment and Contingencies
Number Of Markets | item											4
Wireless
Commitment and Contingencies
Payment to acquire certain wireless licenses and related assets													11,000,000,000
Modified 700 MHz Final Build-out Requirement (as a percent)											70.00%
H Block Licenses
Commitment and Contingencies
Payment to acquire certain wireless licenses and related assets								$ 1,672,000,000
Number of wireless spectrum licenses | segment								176
H Block Licenses | Minimum
Commitment and Contingencies
Final Build-out Requirement (as a percent)											75.00%
700 MHz Licenses
Commitment and Contingencies
Payment to acquire certain wireless licenses and related assets												$ 712,000,000
700 MHz Licenses | Maximum
Commitment and Contingencies
Percent of coverage on available licensed geographic areas	70.00%
700 MHz Licenses | Minimum
Commitment and Contingencies
Percent of coverage on available licensed geographic areas	20.00%
600 MHz Licenses
Commitment and Contingencies
Number of wireless spectrum licenses | item																486
Build-out requirement accelerated period											2 years
Aggregate Bid Price																$ 6,211,000,000
Licenses Renewal Period											39 months
600 MHz Licenses | Maximum
Commitment and Contingencies
Percent of coverage on available licensed geographic areas	75.00%										75.00%
600 MHz Licenses | Minimum
Commitment and Contingencies
Percent of coverage on available licensed geographic areas	70.00%										40.00%
28 GHz and 24 GHz Licenses
Commitment and Contingencies
Aggregate Bid Price											$ 15,000,000		15,000,000
24 GHz Licenses
Commitment and Contingencies
Percentage of signal coverage and service											40.00%
AWS-4 Licenses | Maximum
Commitment and Contingencies
Percent of coverage on available licensed geographic areas	70.00%
AWS-4 Licenses | Minimum
Commitment and Contingencies
Percent of coverage on available licensed geographic areas	20.00%
AWS H Block licenses | Maximum
Commitment and Contingencies
Percent of coverage on available licensed geographic areas	70.00%
AWS H Block licenses | Minimum
Commitment and Contingencies
Percent of coverage on available licensed geographic areas	20.00%
AWS-4 Satellites
Commitment and Contingencies
Ownership percentage									100.00%
DBSD North America and TerreStar Transactions | Wireless
Commitment and Contingencies
Purchase price									$ 2,860,000,000
AWS-4 Final Build-out Requirement (as a percent)											70.00%
DBSD North America and TerreStar Transactions | AWS-4 Satellites
Commitment and Contingencies
Ownership percentage									100.00%
NTM Network | Spectrum Purchase Agreement
Commitment and Contingencies
Spectrum lease back period											2 years
per-Pop rate											$ 68,000,000
Northstar Spectrum And SNR Holdco
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Noncontrolling Interest in Variable Interest Entity											$ 10,000,000,000		10,000,000,000
Northstar Spectrum And SNR Holdco | AWS 3 Auction
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Percentage of bidding credit											25.00%
Northstar Spectrum And SNR Holdco | AWS-3 Licenses
Commitment and Contingencies
Interim Build-out Requirement (as a percent)											40.00%
Final Build-out Requirement (as a percent)											75.00%
Accelerated period to meet Final Build-Out Requirement on failure to meet Interim Build-Out Requirement											2 years
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum
Commitment and Contingencies
Interim payment percentage											15.00%
Re-Auction payment											$ 1,892,000,000
Overpayment Of Interim Payment											334,000,000
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Noncontrolling Interest in Variable Interest Entity											$ 10,000,000,000		$ 10,000,000,000
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum | Preferred Class A
Commitment and Contingencies
Ownership percentage											100.00%
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum | Northstar Manager LLC
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Controlling interest owned by other companies											15.00%
Equity contribution										$ 133,000,000
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum | American II
Commitment and Contingencies
Ownership percentage											85.00%
Loan made											$ 69,000,000
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Equity contribution										7,621,000,000
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum | AWS 3 Auction
Commitment and Contingencies
Interim Payment											$ 334,000,000
Interim payment percentage											15.00%
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum | Northstar Licenses
Commitment and Contingencies
Number of wireless spectrum licenses | item											261		261
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Gross winning bids											$ 5,619,000,000
Bidding credit value							$ 1,961,000,000
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum | AWS-3 Licenses
Commitment and Contingencies
Non-payment gross winning bids											2,226,000,000		$ 2,226,000,000
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Gross winning bids											$ 7,845,000,000
Percentage of bidding credit											25.00%
Net winning bid											$ 5,884,000,000
Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum | SNR Licenses
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Percentage of bidding credit							25.00%
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco
Commitment and Contingencies
Non-payment gross winning bids											$ 1,211,000,000		$ 1,211,000,000
Interim payment percentage											15.00%
Re-Auction payment											$ 1,029,000,000.000
Overpayment Of Interim Payment											$ 182,000,000
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco | Maximum
Commitment and Contingencies
Preferred stock quarterly distribution (as a percent)		12.00%
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco | Minimum
Commitment and Contingencies
Preferred stock quarterly distribution (as a percent)		8.00%
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco | SNR Wireless Management LLC
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Controlling interest owned by other companies											15.00%
Equity contribution										93,000,000
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco | American II
Commitment and Contingencies
Window of days for management to put its interest		90 days	30 days
Additional days allowed for management to put its interest		90 days
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco | American II | Maximum
Commitment and Contingencies
Preferred stock quarterly distribution (as a percent)		12.00%
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco | American II | Minimum
Commitment and Contingencies
Preferred stock quarterly distribution (as a percent)		8.00%
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco | American III
Commitment and Contingencies
Number of wireless spectrum licenses | item											244		244
Loan made											$ 344,000,000
Debt outstanding amount				$ 5,065,000,000.000						5,065,000,000.000
Principal amount of debt				$ 500,000,000						500,000,000
Window of days for management to put its interest		90 days	30 days
Additional days allowed for management to put its interest		90 days
Additional loan to pay gross winning bids											344,000,000
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Equity contribution										$ 5,590,000,000
Gross winning bids											4,271,000,000
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco | American III | Preferred Class A
Commitment and Contingencies
Number shares issued in conversion | item										5,065,415
Preferred stock quarterly distribution (as a percent)										12.00%
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco | American III | Maximum
Commitment and Contingencies
Interest rate (as a percent)				12.00%						12.00%
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco | American III | Minimum
Commitment and Contingencies
Interest rate (as a percent)				6.00%						6.00%
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco | AWS-3 Licenses
Commitment and Contingencies
Non-payment gross winning bids											1,211,000,000		$ 1,211,000,000
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco | SNR Licenses
Commitment and Contingencies
Interim Payment											182,000,000
Non-payment gross winning bids											$ 1,211,000,000		1,211,000,000
Interim payment percentage											15.00%
Additional Bid Withdrawal Payment											$ 3,000,000
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Gross winning bids											$ 5,482,000,000
Percentage of bidding credit											25.00%
Net winning bid											$ 4,112,000,000
Bid withdrawal payment											$ 8,000,000
Bidding credit value							$ 1,370,000,000
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco Class B Interests [Member] | American III
Commitment and Contingencies
Ownership percentage											85.00%
SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco Class A Interests [Member] | American III
Commitment and Contingencies
Ownership percentage											100.00%
Prior Arrangement | Northstar Licenses
Commitment and Contingencies
Non-payment gross winning bids											$ 2,226,000,000		2,226,000,000
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Number of licenses returned | item											84
Prior Arrangement | SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco | SNR Licenses
Commitments relating to AWS-3 Auction
Number of licenses returned | item											113
Northstar Operative Agreement | Northstar Spectrum And SNR Holdco | American II
Commitment and Contingencies
Debt outstanding amount				$ 6,870,000,000						$ 6,870,000,000
Northstar Operative Agreement | Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum | American II
Commitment and Contingencies
Principal amount of debt				$ 500,000,000						$ 500,000,000
Loan balance maturity period		10 years	7 years
Removal of consent for unsecured financing and equipment financing		$ 25,000,000
Northstar Operative Agreement | Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum | American II | Preferred Class A
Commitment and Contingencies
Number shares issued in conversion										6,870,493
Preferred stock quarterly distribution (as a percent)										12.00%
Northstar Operative Agreement | Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum | American II | Maximum
Commitment and Contingencies
Interest rate (as a percent)				12.00%						12.00%
Northstar Operative Agreement | Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum | American II | Minimum
Commitment and Contingencies
Interest rate (as a percent)				6.00%						6.00%
SNR Operative Agreement | SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco | American III
Commitment and Contingencies
Loan balance maturity period		10 years	7 years
Removal of consent for unsecured financing and equipment financing		$ 25,000,000
Master Network Service Agreement
Commitment and Contingencies
Service receipt period											2 years
Maximum Permitted Ownership Percent											50.00%
service pass through costs and out of pocket expenses charging period											36 months
Threshold Ownership Percentage Of Not Permitted Owners											50.00%
Percentage Of Wireless Communication Business Assets Are Sold											50.00%
Percentage Of Voting Power Or Economic Value Held By Restricted Persons											50.00%
Provision For New User After Change Of Control											6 months
Option Agreement
Commitment and Contingencies
Number of cell sites | item											20,000
Number of retail stores | store											400
Period in which cell sites are scheduled to be decommissioned											5 years
Option agreement term											5 years
Period after closing of prepaid business sale, transfer asset request is admissible	1 year
Period within closing of prepaid business sale, required to offer nationwide postpaid retail mobile wireless service	1 year
Period within entry of final judgment	90 days
Period entry of final judgement of each 180 day	180 days
Damages To Be Paid In Case Of Breach Of Agreement	$ 360,000,000
Percentage of purchase price	10.00%
Percentage of population served	20.00%
Period in which at least 20% of population served to avoid payment of damages	3 years
Status of negotiation period	90 days
Threshold period for involvement of DOJ	180 days
Term of final judgement from the date of its entry with the District Court.	7 years
Term of final judgement if DOJ gives notice	5 years
Spectrum Lease Period	6 years
Option Agreement | AWS-4 Satellites
Commitment and Contingencies
Damages To Be Paid In Case Of Breach Of Agreement	$ 2,200,000,000
Option Agreement | AWS-4 And 600 MHz
Commitment and Contingencies
Spectrum Lease Period	6 years
FCC Wireless Bureau | Auction 1000
Commitment and Contingencies
Payment to acquire certain wireless licenses and related assets						$ 1,500,000,000
Payment of remaining balance of winning bid					$ 4,711,000,000
Long-term debt obligations
Commitment and Contingencies
Total											$ 14,670,946,000		14,670,946,000
2020											1,109,873,000		1,109,873,000
2021											2,008,318,000		2,008,318,000
2022											2,008,753,000		2,008,753,000
2023											1,508,891,000		1,508,891,000
2024											3,007,233,000		3,007,233,000
Thereafter											5,027,878,000		5,027,878,000
Interest expense on long-term debt
Commitment and Contingencies
Total											3,309,472,000		3,309,472,000
2020											759,167,000		759,167,000
2021											662,545,000		662,545,000
2022											594,867,000		594,867,000
2023											438,519,000		438,519,000
2024											387,489,000		387,489,000
Thereafter											466,885,000		466,885,000
Finance lease obligations
Commitment and Contingencies
Total											233,199,000		233,199,000
2020											61,493,000		61,493,000
2021											67,911,000		67,911,000
2022											38,993,000		38,993,000
2023											35,478,000		35,478,000
2024											29,324,000		29,324,000
Interest expense on finance lease obligations
Commitment and Contingencies
Total											50,201,000		50,201,000
2020											19,341,000		19,341,000
2021											14,699,000		14,699,000
2022											9,314,000		9,314,000
2023											5,464,000		5,464,000
2024											1,383,000		1,383,000
Satellite-related and other obligations
Commitment and Contingencies
Total											187,426,000		187,426,000
2020											59,578,000		59,578,000
2021											55,928,000		55,928,000
2022											31,856,000		31,856,000
2023											22,918,000		22,918,000
2024											17,146,000		17,146,000
Operating lease obligations
Commitment and Contingencies
Total											151,473,000		151,473,000
2020											62,331,000		62,331,000
2021											47,496,000		47,496,000
2022											23,746,000		23,746,000
2023											9,392,000		9,392,000
2024											5,682,000		5,682,000
Thereafter											2,826,000		2,826,000
Purchase obligations
Commitment and Contingencies
Total											1,284,396,000		1,284,396,000
2020											1,243,081,000		1,243,081,000
2021											29,284,000		29,284,000
2022											$ 12,031,000		$ 12,031,000
SNR Credit Agreement | SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco
Commitment and Contingencies
Loan made										$ 500,000,000,000
SNR Credit Agreement | SNR Wireless or SNR Wireless Holdco | American III
Commitment and Contingencies
Loan made				$ 500,000,000
Northstar Credit Agreement | Northstar Wireless or Northstar Spectrum | American II
Commitment and Contingencies
Loan made										$ 500,000,000