Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Supplemental Cash Flow [Line Items]
Interest paid	$ 265	$ 235	$ 164
Income taxes paid, net of (refunds received)	4	(50)	(119)
Supplemental cash flows, stock based compensation
Net cash receipts (disbursements) from exercise of stock options and vesting of other stock awards	(2)	(3)	(4)
Net cash receipts (disbursements) from exercise of stock options and vesting of other stock awards, subsidiary	(11)	(6)	(5)
Noncash software license acquisitions	28	25	130
Other current liabilities
Supplemental cash flows, stock based compensation
Short-term software license liabilities	45	68
Other deferred liabilities and credits
Supplemental cash flows, stock based compensation
Long-term software license liabilities	19	36
TDS
Supplemental cash flows, stock based compensation
Cash receipts upon exercise of stock options	9	0	0
Cash disbursements for payment of taxes	(11)	(3)	(4)
Net cash receipts (disbursements) from exercise of stock options and vesting of other stock awards	(2)	(3)	(4)
UScellular
Supplemental cash flows, stock based compensation
Cash receipts upon exercise of stock options	2	0	0
Cash disbursements for payment of taxes	(13)	(6)	(5)
Net cash receipts (disbursements) from exercise of stock options and vesting of other stock awards, subsidiary	$ (11)	$ (6)	$ (5)
Common Shares \| TDS
Supplemental cash flows, stock based compensation
Common Shares withheld (in shares)	565,000	338,000	225,000
Aggregate value of Common Shares withheld	$ 11	$ 3	$ 4
UScellular Common Shares \| UScellular
Supplemental cash flows, stock based compensation
Common Shares withheld (in shares)	363,000	347,000	154,000
Aggregate value of Common Shares withheld	$ 13	$ 9	$ 5

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Net cash receipts (disbursements) from exercise of stock options and vesting of other stock awards, subsidiary

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For net-share settlement of share-based awards when the employer withholds shares for the exercise price and income tax withholding obligations, this element represents the number of shares the employees use to repay the employer.

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For net-share settlement of share-based awards when the employer withholds shares for the exercise price and income tax withholding obligations, this element represents the value of shares the employees use to repay the employer.

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Liability for software license acquisitions with payments due after twelve months.

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Liability for software license acquisitions with payments due in the next twelve months.

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Disclosure of supplemental cash flow items.

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Amount, after refund, of cash paid to foreign, federal, state, and local jurisdictions as income tax.

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Amount of cash paid for interest, excluding capitalized interest, classified as operating activity. Includes, but is not limited to, payment to settle zero-coupon bond for accreted interest of debt discount and debt instrument with insignificant coupon interest rate in relation to effective interest rate of borrowing attributable to accreted interest of debt discount.

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The value of an asset or business acquired in a noncash (or part noncash) acquisition. Noncash is defined as information about all investing and financing activities of an enterprise during a period that affect recognized assets or liabilities but that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.

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Amount of cash outflow to satisfy grantee's tax withholding obligation for award under share-based payment arrangement.

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Amount of cash inflow from exercise of option under share-based payment arrangement.

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