v3.19.2
intangible assets and goodwill (Details)
$ in Millions
 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Apr. 04, 2019
item
Jun. 30, 2019
CAD ($)
Jun. 30, 2018
CAD ($)
Jun. 30, 2019
CAD ($)
Jun. 30, 2018
CAD ($)
Mar. 14, 2019
CAD ($)
Dec. 31, 2018
CAD ($)
intangible assets and goodwill              
Balance at beginning of the period       $ 15,681      
Amortization   $ (163) $ (148) (310) $ (287)    
Balance at end of the period   16,853   16,853      
Goodwill   4,888   4,888     $ 4,747
Contractual commitments for the acquisition of intangible assets   28   28     $ 59
Cost/Gross amount              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Balance at beginning of the period       19,957      
Additions       1,230      
Additions arising from business acquisitions       281      
Dispositions, retirements and other       (131)      
Net foreign exchange differences       (32)      
Balance at end of the period   21,305   21,305      
Accumulated amortization              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Balance at beginning of the period       (4,276)      
Amortization       310      
Dispositions, retirements and other       (134)      
Balance at end of the period   (4,452)   (4,452)      
Allowance for doubtful accounts              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Goodwill   0   0      
Spectrum licences              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Balance at beginning of the period       8,694      
Balance at end of the period   9,629   9,629      
Spectrum licences | Innovation, Science and Economic Development              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Number of spectrum licenses purchased | item 12            
Purchase price           $ 931  
Spectrum licences | Cost/Gross amount              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Balance at beginning of the period       8,694      
Additions       931      
Dispositions, retirements and other       4      
Balance at end of the period   9,629   9,629      
Total intangible assets              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Balance at beginning of the period       10,934      
Balance at end of the period   11,965   11,965      
Total intangible assets | Cost/Gross amount              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Balance at beginning of the period       14,846      
Additions       1,230      
Additions arising from business acquisitions       111      
Dispositions, retirements and other       (128)      
Net foreign exchange differences       (6)      
Balance at end of the period   16,053   16,053      
Total intangible assets | Accumulated amortization              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Balance at beginning of the period       (3,912)      
Amortization       310      
Dispositions, retirements and other       (134)      
Balance at end of the period   (4,088)   (4,088)      
Intangible assets subject to amortization              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Balance at beginning of the period       2,240      
Balance at end of the period   2,336   2,336      
Intangible assets subject to amortization | Cost/Gross amount              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Balance at beginning of the period       6,152      
Additions       299      
Additions arising from business acquisitions       111      
Dispositions, retirements and other       (132)      
Net foreign exchange differences       (6)      
Balance at end of the period   6,424   6,424      
Intangible assets subject to amortization | Accumulated amortization              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Balance at beginning of the period       (3,912)      
Amortization       310      
Dispositions, retirements and other       (134)      
Balance at end of the period   (4,088)   (4,088)      
Customer contracts, related customer relationships and leasehold interests              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Balance at beginning of the period       390      
Balance at end of the period   421   421      
Customer contracts, related customer relationships and leasehold interests | Cost/Gross amount              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Balance at beginning of the period       616      
Additions arising from business acquisitions       62      
Dispositions, retirements and other       (5)      
Net foreign exchange differences       (6)      
Balance at end of the period   667   667      
Customer contracts, related customer relationships and leasehold interests | Accumulated amortization              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Balance at beginning of the period       (226)      
Amortization       28      
Dispositions, retirements and other       (8)      
Balance at end of the period   (246)   (246)      
Software              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Balance at beginning of the period       1,471      
Balance at end of the period   1,600   1,600      
Software | Cost/Gross amount              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Balance at beginning of the period       5,092      
Additions       27      
Additions arising from business acquisitions       49      
Dispositions, retirements and other       (126)      
Assets under construction put into service       334      
Balance at end of the period   5,376   5,376      
Software | Accumulated amortization              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Balance at beginning of the period       (3,621)      
Amortization       280      
Dispositions, retirements and other       (125)      
Balance at end of the period   (3,776)   (3,776)      
Access to rights-of-way and other              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Balance at beginning of the period       38      
Balance at end of the period   42   42      
Access to rights-of-way and other | Cost/Gross amount              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Balance at beginning of the period       103      
Additions       6      
Dispositions, retirements and other       (1)      
Balance at end of the period   108   108      
Access to rights-of-way and other | Accumulated amortization              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Balance at beginning of the period       (65)      
Amortization       2      
Dispositions, retirements and other       (1)      
Balance at end of the period   (66)   (66)      
Assets under construction              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Balance at beginning of the period       341      
Balance at end of the period   273   273      
Assets under construction | Cost/Gross amount              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Balance at beginning of the period       341      
Additions       266      
Assets under construction put into service       (334)      
Balance at end of the period   273   273      
Goodwill              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Balance at beginning of the period       4,747      
Balance at end of the period   4,888   4,888      
Goodwill | Cost/Gross amount              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Balance at beginning of the period       5,111      
Additions arising from business acquisitions       170      
Dispositions, retirements and other       (3)      
Net foreign exchange differences       (26)      
Balance at end of the period   5,252   5,252      
Goodwill | Accumulated amortization              
intangible assets and goodwill              
Balance at beginning of the period       (364)      
Balance at end of the period   $ (364)   $ (364)