Events Associated with the Amalgamation of Global Crossing (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended					0 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Oct. 03, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011 Global Crossing members	Oct. 04, 2011 Global Crossing 2% Cumulative convertible preferred stock Amalgamation	Nov. 30, 2011 Global Crossing 12% Senior Notes due 2015 Amalgamation	Nov. 30, 2011 Global Crossing 9% Senior Notes due 2019 Amalgamation	Nov. 30, 2011 Global Crossing Amalgamation	Nov. 04, 2011 Global Crossing Amalgamation	Nov. 03, 2011 Global Crossing Amalgamation	Nov. 03, 2011 Global Crossing (UK) Finance PLC Senior Secured Notes due 2014 Amalgamation	Oct. 04, 2011 Common stock Amalgamation	Oct. 31, 2011 Common stock Amalgamation	Oct. 31, 2011 Senior Secured Term Loan due 2014 Tranche B II Term Loan Issuance of debt	Sep. 30, 2011 Senior Notes due 2019 (8.125%)	Sep. 30, 2011 Minimum	Sep. 30, 2011 Maximum	Sep. 30, 2011 Amalgamation	Sep. 30, 2010 Amalgamation	Sep. 30, 2011 Amalgamation	Sep. 30, 2010 Amalgamation	Oct. 04, 2011 Amalgamation	Oct. 20, 2011 Reverse stock split	Oct. 19, 2011 Reverse stock split
Pending Acquisition
Amalgamation stock exchange ratio (in shares)											16
Preferred stock dividend rate (as a percent)				2.00%
Additional principal amount of debt issued													$ 650,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of 8.125% Senior Notes due 2019 in June and July 2011														1,200,000,000
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)					12.00%	9.00%								8.125%
Shares issued in Amalgamation transaction (in shares)												88,530,000
Reverse stock split ratio (in shares)																						15	15
Amount of outstanding debt redeemed and refinanced							1,360,000,000
Principal amount of debt redeemed					750,000,000	150,000,000				430,000,000
Percentage of outstanding principal redeemed (as a percent)								65.00%	35.00%
Basis spread on comparable U.S. Treasury security used to calculate make-whole prices for debt redemption								0.50%
Closing stock price		$ 21.15
Estimated total Amalgamation transaction consideration																	3,230,000,000		3,230,000,000
Initial Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash																					236,000,000
Property, plant, and equipment, net																					3,119,000,000
Goodwill																					509,000,000
Identifiable intangibles																					300,000,000
Other Assets																					520,000,000
Total Assets																					4,684,000,000
Long-term debt																					(1,554,000,000)
Other Liabilities																					(1,176,000,000)
Total Liabilities																					(2,730,000,000)
Total Estimated Equity Consideration																					1,954,000,000
Pro Forma Financial Information [Abstract]
Total Revenue																	1,630,000,000	1,545,000,000	4,815,000,000	4,612,000,000
Net Loss																	(293,000,000)	(198,000,000)	(799,000,000)	(868,000,000)
Estimated acquisition related transaction costs	52,000,000
Acquisition related costs incurred	20,000,000
Estimated integration costs															$ 200,000,000	$ 225,000,000
Percentage of acquiree owned by ST Telemedia (as a percent)			60.00%
Number of Board members designated by ST Telemedia			3