Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 147,782	$ 92,610	$ 36,881
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	374,716	328,610	246,544
Stock-based compensation	84,158	71,532	67,489
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	(72,631)	(81)
Restructuring charges		3,481	6,734
Impairment charges	9,861
Amortization of intangible assets	23,575	19,064	13,632
Accretion of asset retirement obligation and accrued restructuring charges	3,395	4,720	3,128
Amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discounts	23,365	32,172	27,915
Provision for allowance for doubtful accounts	4,186	4,987	2,056
Loss on debt extinguishment and interest rate swaps, net	5,204		10,187
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	(11,852)
Other items	2,704	5,146	2,254
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(26,601)	(23,061)	(39,886)
Income taxes, net	27,308	24,865	1,992
Other assets	1,334	(30,956)	(11,855)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	31,282	41,973	35,175
Accrued restructuring charges	(2,556)	(3,079)	(4,426)
Other liabilities	6,796	15,626	(4,948)
Net cash provided by operating activities	632,026	587,609	392,872
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments	(442,870)	(1,268,574)	(744,798)
Sales of investments	362,266	125,674	25,174
Maturities of investments	579,855	495,865	827,540
Purchases of real estate	(24,656)	(28,066)	(14,861)
Purchases of other property, plant and equipment	(764,500)	(685,675)	(579,397)
Proceeds from the sale of discontinued operations	76,458
Increase in restricted cash	(8,696)	(97,724)	(1,582)
Release of restricted cash	88,762	1,000	244
Other investing activities, net		10
Net cash used in investing activities	(442,873)	(1,499,444)	(600,969)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Purchases of treasury stock	(13,364)	(86,666)
Proceeds from employee equity awards	56,137	38,893	39,817
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	72,631	81
Proceeds from senior notes		750,000	750,000
Proceeds from loans payable	262,591	95,336	121,581
Repayment of convertible debt	(250,007)
Repayment of mortgage and loans payable	(329,111)	(22,829)	(558,007)
Repayment of capital lease and other financing obligations	(12,378)	(10,426)	(16,133)
Debt issuance costs	(9,220)	(15,661)	(23,124)
Debt extinguishment costs			(4,448)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(222,721)	748,728	309,686
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	6,958	(911)	(4,804)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(26,610)	(164,018)	96,785
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	278,823	442,841	346,056
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	252,213	278,823	442,841
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid for taxes	36,711	9,157	11,043
Cash paid for interest	185,321	129,129	97,943
Asia Tone [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of Business, net of cash acquired	(202,338)
Ancotel Acquisition [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of Business, net of cash acquired	(84,236)
Dubai IBX Data Center Acquisition [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of Business, net of cash acquired	(22,918)
ALOG [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of Business, net of cash acquired		(41,954)
Switch and Data Acquisition [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of Business, net of cash acquired			$ (113,289)