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intangible assets and goodwill (Details) - CAD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Balance at beginning of the period | $ 18,153 |
Amortization | 905 | $ 648
Balance at end of the period | 22,261 | 18,153
Accumulated impairment losses of goodwill | 7,235 | 5,307
Contractual commitments for the acquisition of intangible assets | 56 | 45
Cost/Gross amount |  |
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Balance at beginning of the period | 22,901 | 19,957
Additions | 640 | 1,877
Additions arising from business acquisitions | 4,260 | 1,253
Dispositions, retirements and other | (398) | (145)
Net foreign exchange differences | 87 | (41)
Balance at end of the period | 27,490 | 22,901
Accumulated amortization |  |
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Balance at beginning of the period | (4,748) | (4,276)
Amortization | 905 | 648
Dispositions, retirements and other | 428 | 176
Net foreign exchange differences | (4) |
Balance at end of the period | (5,229) | (4,748)
Allowance for doubtful accounts |  |
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Accumulated impairment losses of goodwill | 0 |
Spectrum licences |  |
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Balance at beginning of the period | 9,937 |
Balance at end of the period | 9,910 | 9,937
Spectrum licences | Cost/Gross amount |  |
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Balance at beginning of the period | 9,937 | 8,694
Additions |  | 1,217
Additions arising from business acquisitions | 9 |
Dispositions, retirements and other | (36) | 26
Balance at end of the period | 9,910 | 9,937
Total intangible assets |  |
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Balance at beginning of the period | 12,846 |
Balance at end of the period | 15,026 | 12,846
Total intangible assets | Cost/Gross amount |  |
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Balance at beginning of the period | 17,230 | 14,846
Additions | 640 | 1,877
Additions arising from business acquisitions | 2,373 | 660
Dispositions, retirements and other | (398) | (145)
Net foreign exchange differences | 46 | (8)
Balance at end of the period | 19,891 | 17,230
Total intangible assets | Accumulated amortization |  |
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Balance at beginning of the period | (4,384) | (3,912)
Amortization | 905 | 648
Dispositions, retirements and other | 428 | 176
Net foreign exchange differences | (4) |
Balance at end of the period | (4,865) | (4,384)
Intangible assets subject to amortization |  |
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Balance at beginning of the period | 2,909 |
Balance at end of the period | 5,116 | 2,909
Intangible assets subject to amortization | Cost/Gross amount |  |
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Balance at beginning of the period | 7,293 | 6,152
Additions | 640 | 660
Additions arising from business acquisitions | 2,364 | 660
Dispositions, retirements and other | (362) | (171)
Net foreign exchange differences | 46 | (8)
Balance at end of the period | 9,981 | 7,293
Intangible assets subject to amortization | Accumulated amortization |  |
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Balance at beginning of the period | (4,384) | (3,912)
Amortization | 905 | 648
Dispositions, retirements and other | 428 | 176
Net foreign exchange differences | (4) |
Balance at end of the period | (4,865) | (4,384)
Customer contracts, related customer relationships and leasehold interests |  |
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Balance at beginning of the period | 747 |
Balance at end of the period | 2,420 | 747
Customer contracts, related customer relationships and leasehold interests | Cost/Gross amount |  |
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Balance at beginning of the period | 1,032 | 616
Additions arising from business acquisitions | 1,736 | 453
Dispositions, retirements and other | 100 | (29)
Net foreign exchange differences | 47 | (8)
Balance at end of the period | 2,915 | 1,032
Customer contracts, related customer relationships and leasehold interests | Accumulated amortization |  |
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Balance at beginning of the period | (285) | (226)
Amortization | 215 | 70
Dispositions, retirements and other | 10 | 11
Net foreign exchange differences | (5) |
Balance at end of the period | (495) | (285)
Software |  |
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Balance at beginning of the period | 1,842 |
Balance at end of the period | 2,205 | 1,842
Software | Cost/Gross amount |  |
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Balance at beginning of the period | 5,870 | 5,092
Additions | 88 | 60
Additions arising from business acquisitions | 357 | 205
Dispositions, retirements and other | (421) | (166)
Assets under construction put into service | 586 | 679
Net foreign exchange differences | (1) |
Balance at end of the period | 6,479 | 5,870
Software | Accumulated amortization |  |
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Balance at beginning of the period | (4,028) | (3,621)
Amortization | 671 | 573
Dispositions, retirements and other | 424 | 166
Net foreign exchange differences | 1 |
Balance at end of the period | (4,274) | (4,028)
Access to rights-of-way, crowdsource assets and other |  |
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Balance at beginning of the period | 66 |
Balance at end of the period | 275 | 66
Access to rights-of-way, crowdsource assets and other | Cost/Gross amount |  |
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Balance at beginning of the period | 137 | 103
Additions | 4 | 8
Additions arising from business acquisitions | 271 | 2
Dispositions, retirements and other | (41) | 24
Balance at end of the period | 371 | 137
Access to rights-of-way, crowdsource assets and other | Accumulated amortization |  |
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Balance at beginning of the period | (71) | (65)
Amortization | 19 | 5
Dispositions, retirements and other | (6) | (1)
Balance at end of the period | (96) | (71)
Assets under construction |  |
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Balance at beginning of the period | 254 |
Balance at end of the period | 216 | 254
Assets under construction | Cost/Gross amount |  |
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Balance at beginning of the period | 254 | 341
Additions | 548 | 592
Assets under construction put into service | (586) | (679)
Balance at end of the period | 216 | 254
Goodwill |  |
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Balance at beginning of the period | 5,307 |
Balance at end of the period | 7,235 | 5,307
Goodwill | Cost/Gross amount |  |
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Balance at beginning of the period | 5,671 | 5,111
Additions arising from business acquisitions | 1,887 | 593
Net foreign exchange differences | 41 | (33)
Balance at end of the period | 7,599 | 5,671
Goodwill | Accumulated amortization |  |
intangible assets and goodwill |  |
Balance at beginning of the period | (364) | (364)
Balance at end of the period | $ (364) | $ (364)

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