Funding Sources	12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Receivables [Abstract]
Funding Sources	Funding Sources Our device leasing and installment billing programs require a greater use of operating cash flows in the earlier part of the device contracts as our subscribers will generally pay less upfront than traditional subsidized programs. The Accounts Receivable Facility and the Handset Sale-Leaseback Tranche 1 transactions described below were designed to mitigate the significant use of cash from purchasing devices from OEMs to fulfill our installment billing and leasing programs. In addition, we have $3.0 billion of availability under our revolving credit facility (see Note 9. Long-Term Debt, Financing and Capital Lease Obligations). After March 31, 2016 we also entered into a Network Sale-Leaseback transaction and Handset Sale-Leaseback Tranche 2 that provided $2.2 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively in cash proceeds and a New Unsecured Financing Facility for $2.0 billion (see Note 19. Subsequent Events) that also provides liquidity for business operations. Accounts Receivable Facility Transaction Overview Our accounts receivable facility (Receivables Facility), which provides us the opportunity to sell certain wireless service and installment receivables (as defined in the agreements) to unaffiliated third parties (Purchasers), was amended in November 2015 to include future amounts due from customers who lease certain devices from us. The amendment increased the maximum funding limit under the Receivables Facility to $4.3 billion and extended the expiration to November 2017. The amount available under the Receivables Facility fluctuates over time based on the total amount of eligible receivables generated during the normal course of our business. As of March 31, 2016, the total availability under the facility was approximately $2.0 billion. However, as a result of sales we have completed to date, the total amount available to be drawn as of March 31, 2016 was $94 million. The proceeds from the sale of these receivables are comprised of a combination of cash and a deferred purchase price receivable (DPP). While it's at Sprint's election to decide how much cash it chooses to receive from each sale, the maximum amount of proceeds varies based on a number of factors and currently represents approximately 50% of the total amount of the receivables sold to the Purchasers. The DPP is realized by us upon either the ultimate collection of the underlying receivables sold to the Purchasers or upon Sprint's election to receive additional advances in cash from the Purchasers subject to the total availability under the Receivables Facility. Wireless service and installment receivables sold are treated as a sale of financial assets and Sprint derecognizes these receivables, as well as the related allowances, and recognizes the net proceeds received in cash provided by operating activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows. The fees associated with these sales are recognized in "Selling, general and administrative" on the consolidated statements of operations. The sale of future lease receivables are treated as financing transactions. Accordingly, the proceeds received are reflected as cash provided by financing activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows and the fees are recognized as "Interest expense" on the consolidated statements of operations. Transaction Structure Sprint contributes certain wireless service, installment and future lease receivables as well as the associated leased devices to Sprint's wholly-owned consolidated bankruptcy-remote SPEs. At Sprint's direction, the SPEs have sold, and will continue to sell, wireless service, future lease and installment receivables to Purchasers or to a bank agent on behalf of the Purchasers. Leased devices will remain with the SPEs, once sales are initiated, and continue to be depreciated over their estimated useful life. Each SPE is a separate legal entity with its own separate creditors who will be entitled, prior to and upon the liquidation of the SPE, to be satisfied out of the SPE’s assets prior to any assets in the SPE becoming available to Sprint. Accordingly, the assets of the SPE are not available to pay creditors of Sprint or any of its affiliates (other than any other SPE), although collections from these receivables in excess of amounts required to repay the advances, yield and fees of the Purchasers and other creditors of the SPEs may be remitted to Sprint during and after the term of the Receivables Facility. Sprint has no retained interest in the receivables sold, other than collection and administrative responsibilities and its right to the DPP. Sales of eligible receivables by the SPEs generally occur daily and are settled on a monthly basis. Sprint pays a fee for the drawn and undrawn portions of the Receivables Facility. A subsidiary of Sprint services the receivables in exchange for a monthly servicing fee, and Sprint guarantees the performance of the servicing obligations under the Receivables Facility. DPP The DPP related to our wireless service and installment receivables is classified as a trading security within "Prepaid expenses and other current assets" on the consolidated balance sheets and is recorded at its estimated fair value. The fair value of the DPP is estimated using a discounted cash flow model, which relies principally on unobservable inputs such as the nature and credit class of the sold receivables and subscriber payment history, and, for installment receivables sold, the estimated timing of upgrades and upgrade payment amounts for those with upgrade options. Accretable yield on the DPP is recognized as interest revenue within net operating service revenue on the consolidated statements of operations and other changes in the fair value of the DPP are recognized in "Selling, general and administrative" on the consolidated statements of operations. Changes in the fair value of the DPP did not have a material impact on our consolidated statements of operations for the year ended March 31, 2016. Changes to the unobservable inputs used to determine the fair value did not and are not expected to result in a material change in the fair value of the DPP. Wireless Service Receivable Sales On March 31, 2015, we sold approximately $1.8 billion of wireless service receivables in exchange for $500 million in cash (reflected within the change in accounts and notes receivable on the consolidated statement of cash flows) and a DPP of $1.3 billion, with an estimated fair value of $1.2 billion. In accordance with our rights under the Receivables Facility, in April 2015 Sprint elected to temporarily suspend sales of receivables by the SPEs and remitted payments received to the Purchasers to reduce the funded amount of $500 million to zero. In September 2015, we sold wireless service receivables of approximately $1.9 billion in exchange for $400 million in cash and $1.5 billion of DPP, with an estimated fair value of $1.4 billion. In October 2015 and January 2016, we elected to receive $300 million and $125 million, respectively, of cash, which reduced the total amount of the DPP due to Sprint. During the period from our initial sale in September to March 31, 2016, cash collections on previously sold wireless service receivables exceeded sales of new receivables such that the DPP decreased by approximately $207 million. As of March 31, 2016, the total amount available under the Receivables Facility associated with wireless service receivables was $43 million and the total fair value of the associated DPP was $760 million. Installment Receivable Sales In October 2015, we sold installment receivables of approximately $1.2 billion under the Receivables Facility in exchange for $100 million in cash and $1.1 billion of DPP, with an estimated fair value of $1.0 billion. In November 2015, we elected to receive $400 million of cash, which reduced the total amount of the DPP due to Sprint. During the period from our initial sale in October to March 31, 2016, cash collections on previously sold installment receivables exceeded sales of new receivables such that the DPP decreased by approximately $227 million. As of March 31, 2016, there is no remaining availability under the Receivables Facility associated with installment receivables and the total fair value of the associated DPP was $395 million. Future Lease Receivable Sales In February and March 2016, we sold approximately $1.2 billion in total of future lease receivables in exchange for cash proceeds of $600 million. The difference between the amount sold and the cash received represents additional collateral to the lender. The sale was accounted for as a financing and the $600 million cash proceeds were, accordingly, reflected as debt in our consolidated balance sheets. As of March 31, 2016, the amount available under the Receivables Facility associated with future lease receivables was $51 million. Continuing Involvement Sprint has continuing involvement in the receivables sold by the SPEs to the Purchasers because a subsidiary of Sprint services the receivables. Additionally, in accordance with the Receivables Facility, Sprint is required to repurchase aged receivables, or those that will be written off in accordance with Sprint's credit and collection policies, both of which result from subscriber non-payment. Sprint recognizes assets and liabilities, as applicable, with respect to its continuing involvement at fair value. Sprint's continuing involvement did not have a material impact on its financial statements as of March 31, 2016. Variable Interest Entity Sprint determined that certain of the Purchasers, which are multi-seller asset-backed commercial paper conduits (Conduits) are considered variable interest entities because they lack sufficient equity to finance their activities. Sprint's interest in the service and installment receivables purchased by the Conduits, which is comprised of the DPP due to Sprint, is not considered a variable interest because it is in assets that represent less than 50% of the total activity of the Conduits. Handset Sale-Leaseback Tranche 1 In November 2015, Sprint entered into agreements (Handset Sale-Leaseback Tranche 1) to sell and lease-back certain leased devices excluded from our Receivables Facility, which allowed us to monetize the devices including the device residual values. Under the agreements with Mobile Leasing Solutions, LLC (MLS), a company formed by a group of equity investors, including SoftBank, Sprint maintains the customer lease, will continue to collect and record lease revenue from the customer and will remit monthly rental payments to MLS, which are recognized as "Cost of products" on the consolidated statements of operations during the respective lease-back periods. In December 2015, Sprint contributed $1.3 billion of certain leased devices and the associated customer leases to wholly-owned consolidated bankruptcy-remote special purpose entities of Sprint (SPE Lessees). The SPE Lessees then sold the devices and transferred certain specified customer lease end rights and obligations, such as the right to receive the proceeds from customers who elect to purchase the device at the end of the customer lease term, to MLS in exchange for proceeds totaling $1.1 billion (Cash Purchase Price) and a DPP of $126 million. The difference between the fair value and the net book value of the devices sold was recognized as a loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment in the amount of $65 million and is included in "Other, net" on the consolidated statements of operations. Simultaneously with the sale of the devices, MLS leased back each device to the SPE Lessees pursuant to the Master Lease Agreement (Device Lease) in exchange for monthly rental payments to be made by the SPE Lessees to MLS. The monthly rental payments for the devices leased back by us will approximate the amount of cash received from the associated customer leases during the weighted average 17 month lease-back period (See Note 13. Commitments and Contingencies). Rent expense related to MLS totaled $277 million during the year ended March 31, 2016 and is reflected within cash flows from operations. The SPE Lessees retain all rights to the underlying customer leases, such as the right to receive the rental payments during the device lease-back period, other than the aforementioned certain specified customer lease end rights. Each SPE Lessee is a separate legal entity with its own separate creditors who will be entitled, prior to and upon the liquidation of the SPE Lessee, to be satisfied out of the SPE Lessee’s assets prior to any assets in the SPE Lessee becoming available to Sprint. Accordingly, the assets of the SPE Lessee are not available to pay creditors of Sprint or any of its affiliates. Settlement for the DPP occurs at the end of the agreement and can be reduced to the extent that MLS experiences a loss on the device (either not returned or sold at a loss), but only to the extent of the device's DPP balance. The DPP associated with the Handset Sale-Leaseback Tranche 1 is recorded in "Other assets" in the consolidated balance sheets at its estimated net realizable value. Changes to the DPP prior to settlement with MLS are recorded as an adjustment to rent expense in "Cost of products" in the consolidated statements of operations. Brightstar US, Inc. (Brightstar), a subsidiary of SoftBank, provides reverse logistics and remarketing services to MLS with respect to the devices. Unless a Device Lease is terminated early, the SPE Lessees are obligated to pay the full monthly rental payments under each Device Lease, regardless of whether customers make lease payments on the devices leased to them or whether the customer lease is still in effect. Sprint has guaranteed to MLS, the performance of the agreements and undertakings of the SPE Lessees under the transaction documents. All devices must be returned to MLS, subject to purchase rights of the customers. Sprint will act as servicer for MLS, to the extent needed, after the end of the device leaseback period. To secure the obligations of the SPE Lessees under the Device Lease, the SPE Lessees provide a security interest to MLS in, among other things, the customer leases. In the event that MLS is able to sell the returned devices at a price greater than the expected device residual value, Sprint has the potential to share some of the excess proceeds.

Funding Sources

Our device leasing and installment billing programs require a greater use of operating cash flows in the earlier part of the device contracts as our subscribers will generally pay less upfront than traditional subsidized programs. The Accounts Receivable Facility and the Handset Sale-Leaseback Tranche 1 transactions described below were designed to mitigate the significant use of cash from purchasing devices from OEMs to fulfill our installment billing and leasing programs. In addition, we have $3.0 billion of availability under our revolving credit facility (see Note 9. Long-Term Debt, Financing and Capital Lease Obligations). After March 31, 2016 we also entered into a Network Sale-Leaseback transaction and Handset Sale-Leaseback Tranche 2 that provided $2.2 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively in cash proceeds and a New Unsecured Financing Facility for $2.0 billion (see Note 19. Subsequent Events) that also provides liquidity for business operations.

Accounts Receivable Facility

Transaction Overview

Our accounts receivable facility (Receivables Facility), which provides us the opportunity to sell certain wireless service and installment receivables (as defined in the agreements) to unaffiliated third parties (Purchasers), was amended in November 2015 to include future amounts due from customers who lease certain devices from us. The amendment increased the maximum funding limit under the Receivables Facility to $4.3 billion and extended the expiration to November 2017. The amount available under the Receivables Facility fluctuates over time based on the total amount of eligible receivables generated during the normal course of our business. As of March 31, 2016, the total availability under the facility was approximately $2.0 billion. However, as a result of sales we have completed to date, the total amount available to be drawn as of March 31, 2016 was $94 million. The proceeds from the sale of these receivables are comprised of a combination of cash and a deferred purchase price receivable (DPP). While it's at Sprint's election to decide how much cash it chooses to receive from each sale, the maximum amount of proceeds varies based on a number of factors and currently represents approximately 50% of the total amount of the receivables sold to the Purchasers. The DPP is realized by us upon either the ultimate collection of the underlying receivables sold to the Purchasers or upon Sprint's election to receive additional advances in cash from the Purchasers subject to the total availability under the Receivables Facility.

Wireless service and installment receivables sold are treated as a sale of financial assets and Sprint derecognizes these receivables, as well as the related allowances, and recognizes the net proceeds received in cash provided by operating activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows. The fees associated with these sales are recognized in "Selling, general and administrative" on the consolidated statements of operations. The sale of future lease receivables are treated as financing transactions. Accordingly, the proceeds received are reflected as cash provided by financing activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows and the fees are recognized as "Interest expense" on the consolidated statements of operations.

Transaction Structure

Sprint contributes certain wireless service, installment and future lease receivables as well as the associated leased devices to Sprint's wholly-owned consolidated bankruptcy-remote SPEs. At Sprint's direction, the SPEs have sold, and will continue to sell, wireless service, future lease and installment receivables to Purchasers or to a bank agent on behalf of the Purchasers. Leased devices will remain with the SPEs, once sales are initiated, and continue to be depreciated over their estimated useful life.

Each SPE is a separate legal entity with its own separate creditors who will be entitled, prior to and upon the liquidation of the SPE, to be satisfied out of the SPE’s assets prior to any assets in the SPE becoming available to Sprint. Accordingly, the assets of the SPE are not available to pay creditors of Sprint or any of its affiliates (other than any other SPE), although collections from these receivables in excess of amounts required to repay the advances, yield and fees of the Purchasers and other creditors of the SPEs may be remitted to Sprint during and after the term of the Receivables Facility.

Sprint has no retained interest in the receivables sold, other than collection and administrative responsibilities and its right to the DPP. Sales of eligible receivables by the SPEs generally occur daily and are settled on a monthly basis. Sprint pays a fee for the drawn and undrawn portions of the Receivables Facility. A subsidiary of Sprint services the receivables in exchange for a monthly servicing fee, and Sprint guarantees the performance of the servicing obligations under the Receivables Facility.

DPP

The DPP related to our wireless service and installment receivables is classified as a trading security within "Prepaid expenses and other current assets" on the consolidated balance sheets and is recorded at its estimated fair value. The fair value of the DPP is estimated using a discounted cash flow model, which relies principally on unobservable inputs such as the nature and credit class of the sold receivables and subscriber payment history, and, for installment receivables sold, the estimated timing of upgrades and upgrade payment amounts for those with upgrade options. Accretable yield on the DPP is recognized as interest revenue within net operating service revenue on the consolidated statements of operations and other changes in the fair value of the DPP are recognized in "Selling, general and administrative" on the consolidated statements of operations. Changes in the fair value of the DPP did not have a material impact on our consolidated statements of operations for the year ended March 31, 2016. Changes to the unobservable inputs used to determine the fair value did not and are not expected to result in a material change in the fair value of the DPP.

Wireless Service Receivable Sales

On March 31, 2015, we sold approximately $1.8 billion of wireless service receivables in exchange for $500 million in cash (reflected within the change in accounts and notes receivable on the consolidated statement of cash flows) and a DPP of $1.3 billion, with an estimated fair value of $1.2 billion. In accordance with our rights under the Receivables Facility, in April 2015 Sprint elected to temporarily suspend sales of receivables by the SPEs and remitted payments received to the Purchasers to reduce the funded amount of $500 million to zero.

In September 2015, we sold wireless service receivables of approximately $1.9 billion in exchange for $400 million in cash and $1.5 billion of DPP, with an estimated fair value of $1.4 billion. In October 2015 and January 2016, we elected to receive $300 million and $125 million, respectively, of cash, which reduced the total amount of the DPP due to Sprint. During the period from our initial sale in September to March 31, 2016, cash collections on previously sold wireless service receivables exceeded sales of new receivables such that the DPP decreased by approximately $207 million. As of March 31, 2016, the total amount available under the Receivables Facility associated with wireless service receivables was $43 million and the total fair value of the associated DPP was $760 million.

Installment Receivable Sales

In October 2015, we sold installment receivables of approximately $1.2 billion under the Receivables Facility in exchange for $100 million in cash and $1.1 billion of DPP, with an estimated fair value of $1.0 billion. In November 2015, we elected to receive $400 million of cash, which reduced the total amount of the DPP due to Sprint. During the period from our initial sale in October to March 31, 2016, cash collections on previously sold installment receivables exceeded sales of new receivables such that the DPP decreased by approximately $227 million. As of March 31, 2016, there is no remaining availability under the Receivables Facility associated with installment receivables and the total fair value of the associated DPP was $395 million.

Future Lease Receivable Sales

In February and March 2016, we sold approximately $1.2 billion in total of future lease receivables in exchange for cash proceeds of $600 million. The difference between the amount sold and the cash received represents additional collateral to the lender. The sale was accounted for as a financing and the $600 million cash proceeds were, accordingly, reflected as debt in our consolidated balance sheets. As of March 31, 2016, the amount available under the Receivables Facility associated with future lease receivables was $51 million.

Continuing Involvement

Sprint has continuing involvement in the receivables sold by the SPEs to the Purchasers because a subsidiary of Sprint services the receivables. Additionally, in accordance with the Receivables Facility, Sprint is required to repurchase aged receivables, or those that will be written off in accordance with Sprint's credit and collection policies, both of which result from subscriber non-payment. Sprint recognizes assets and liabilities, as applicable, with respect to its continuing involvement at fair value. Sprint's continuing involvement did not have a material impact on its financial statements as of March 31, 2016.

Variable Interest Entity

Sprint determined that certain of the Purchasers, which are multi-seller asset-backed commercial paper conduits (Conduits) are considered variable interest entities because they lack sufficient equity to finance their activities. Sprint's interest in the service and installment receivables purchased by the Conduits, which is comprised of the DPP due to Sprint, is not considered a variable interest because it is in assets that represent less than 50% of the total activity of the Conduits.

Handset Sale-Leaseback Tranche 1

In November 2015, Sprint entered into agreements (Handset Sale-Leaseback Tranche 1) to sell and lease-back certain leased devices excluded from our Receivables Facility, which allowed us to monetize the devices including the device residual values. Under the agreements with Mobile Leasing Solutions, LLC (MLS), a company formed by a group of equity investors, including SoftBank, Sprint maintains the customer lease, will continue to collect and record lease revenue from the customer and will remit monthly rental payments to MLS, which are recognized as "Cost of products" on the consolidated statements of operations during the respective lease-back periods.

In December 2015, Sprint contributed $1.3 billion of certain leased devices and the associated customer leases to wholly-owned consolidated bankruptcy-remote special purpose entities of Sprint (SPE Lessees). The SPE Lessees then sold the devices and transferred certain specified customer lease end rights and obligations, such as the right to receive the proceeds from customers who elect to purchase the device at the end of the customer lease term, to MLS in exchange for proceeds totaling $1.1 billion (Cash Purchase Price) and a DPP of $126 million.

The difference between the fair value and the net book value of the devices sold was recognized as a loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment in the amount of $65 million and is included in "Other, net" on the consolidated statements of operations. Simultaneously with the sale of the devices, MLS leased back each device to the SPE Lessees pursuant to the Master Lease Agreement (Device Lease) in exchange for monthly rental payments to be made by the SPE Lessees to MLS. The monthly rental payments for the devices leased back by us will approximate the amount of cash received from the associated customer leases during the weighted average 17 month lease-back period (See Note 13. Commitments and Contingencies). Rent expense related to MLS totaled $277 million during the year ended March 31, 2016 and is reflected within cash flows from operations.

The SPE Lessees retain all rights to the underlying customer leases, such as the right to receive the rental payments during the device lease-back period, other than the aforementioned certain specified customer lease end rights. Each SPE Lessee is a separate legal entity with its own separate creditors who will be entitled, prior to and upon the liquidation of the SPE Lessee, to be satisfied out of the SPE Lessee’s assets prior to any assets in the SPE Lessee becoming available to Sprint. Accordingly, the assets of the SPE Lessee are not available to pay creditors of Sprint or any of its affiliates. Settlement for the DPP occurs at the end of the agreement and can be reduced to the extent that MLS experiences a loss on the device (either not returned or sold at a loss), but only to the extent of the device's DPP balance. The DPP associated with the Handset Sale-Leaseback Tranche 1 is recorded in "Other assets" in the consolidated balance sheets at its estimated net realizable value. Changes to the DPP prior to settlement with MLS are recorded as an adjustment to rent expense in "Cost of products" in the consolidated statements of operations. Brightstar US, Inc. (Brightstar), a subsidiary of SoftBank, provides reverse logistics and remarketing services to MLS with respect to the devices.

Unless a Device Lease is terminated early, the SPE Lessees are obligated to pay the full monthly rental payments under each Device Lease, regardless of whether customers make lease payments on the devices leased to them or whether the customer lease is still in effect. Sprint has guaranteed to MLS, the performance of the agreements and undertakings of the SPE Lessees under the transaction documents.

All devices must be returned to MLS, subject to purchase rights of the customers. Sprint will act as servicer for MLS, to the extent needed, after the end of the device leaseback period. To secure the obligations of the SPE Lessees under the Device Lease, the SPE Lessees provide a security interest to MLS in, among other things, the customer leases. In the event that MLS is able to sell the returned devices at a price greater than the expected device residual value, Sprint has the potential to share some of the excess proceeds.