Acquisitions (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands, BRL in Millions					1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 01, 2014 USD ($) item	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($) item	Mar. 26, 2014 BRL	Nov. 26, 2013 USD ($) item	Jan. 31, 2016 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) item	Sep. 29, 2014 BRL shares
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of towers acquired | item						893	4,030	2,502
Foreign Exchange Forward [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Foreign currency forward contracts, notional amount | BRL									BRL 1,170.0
Foreign currency floor price | shares									2.4
Foreign currency ceiling price									2.5665
Oi. S. A. Acquisitions [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of towers acquired | item	1,641	2,007		2,113
Cash paid for acquisition	$ 463,200	$ 673,900
Property and equipment	99,810	86,787
Intangible assets	$ 363,352	$ 587,111
Aggregate purchase price				$ 317,000
Oi. S. A. Acquisitions [Member] | March 31, 2014 Acquisition [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total revenue from business acquisition							$ 60,700
Oi. S. A. Acquisitions [Member] | December 1, 2014 Acquisition [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total revenue from business acquisition							$ 4,800
Oi. S. A. Acquisitions [Member] | Foreign Exchange Forward [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Foreign currency forward contracts, notional amount | BRL			BRL 1,525.0
Gain (loss) on derivative | BRL			BRL 17.9
Other Acquisitions [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of towers acquired | item						893	382	389
Cash paid for acquisition						$ 525,800	$ 403,200	$ 311,400
Property and equipment						176,300
Intangible assets						351,000
Working capital adjustments						$ 1,500
Subsequent Event [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of towers acquired | item					102
Cash paid for acquisition					$ 62,500