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INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Details)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
May 16, 2017
USD ($)
item
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Intangible assets      
Balance at beginning of the period   $ 2,257 $ 2,224
Balance at end of the period   2,168 2,257
Acquired intangible assets, not yet paid   92 194
Intangible assets were pledged as collateral   0  
Intangible assets have restrictions on title   0  
Telecommunications licenses, frequencies and permissions      
Intangible assets      
Balance at beginning of the period   1,128 1,056
Balance at end of the period   1,256 1,128
Software      
Intangible assets      
Balance at beginning of the period   380 369
Balance at end of the period   351 380
Brands and trademarks      
Intangible assets      
Balance at beginning of the period   358 375
Balance at end of the period   262 358
Customer relationships      
Intangible assets      
Balance at beginning of the period   337 337
Balance at end of the period   255 337
Other intangible assets      
Intangible assets      
Balance at beginning of the period   54 87
Balance at end of the period   44 54
10 MHz paired 4G/LTE spectrum | Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited      
Intangible assets      
Frequency bands (in MHz) | item 1,800    
Total consideration for acquisition of additional 4G/LTE spectrum $ 295    
Tax rate withholdings on dividend paid to company's ADS depositary (in percent) 10.00%    
Gross carrying amount      
Intangible assets      
Balance at beginning of the period   5,748 5,203
Acquisitions     201
Reclassifications to AHFS   (8)  
Additions   518 329
Disposals   (140) (100)
Translation adjustment   (225) 115
Balance at end of the period   5,893 5,748
Gross carrying amount | Telecommunications licenses, frequencies and permissions      
Intangible assets      
Balance at beginning of the period   2,017 1,761
Acquisitions     70
Reclassifications to AHFS   (8)  
Additions   332 164
Disposals   (38) (16)
Translation adjustment   (110) 38
Balance at end of the period   2,193 2,017
Gross carrying amount | Software      
Intangible assets      
Balance at beginning of the period   1,038 827
Acquisitions     1
Additions   178 176
Disposals   (93) (63)
Transfer   4 11
Translation adjustment   (25) 86
Balance at end of the period   1,102 1,038
Gross carrying amount | Brands and trademarks      
Intangible assets      
Balance at beginning of the period   577 564
Acquisitions     30
Translation adjustment   (25) (17)
Balance at end of the period   552 577
Gross carrying amount | Customer relationships      
Intangible assets      
Balance at beginning of the period   1,853 1,738
Acquisitions     100
Disposals     (6)
Translation adjustment   (44) 21
Balance at end of the period   1,809 1,853
Gross carrying amount | Other intangible assets      
Intangible assets      
Balance at beginning of the period   263 313
Additions   8 (11)
Disposals   (9) (15)
Transfer   (4) (11)
Translation adjustment   (21) (13)
Balance at end of the period   237 263
Amortization and impairment      
Intangible assets      
Balance at beginning of the period   (3,491) (2,979)
Reclassifications to AHFS   6  
Amortization charge for the year   (537) (497)
Disposals   136 95
Impairment     (14)
Translation adjustment   161 (96)
Balance at end of the period   (3,725) (3,491)
Amortization and impairment | Telecommunications licenses, frequencies and permissions      
Intangible assets      
Balance at beginning of the period   (889) (705)
Reclassifications to AHFS   6  
Amortization charge for the year   (160) (161)
Disposals   37 16
Impairment     (12)
Translation adjustment   69 (27)
Balance at end of the period   (937) (889)
Amortization and impairment | Software      
Intangible assets      
Balance at beginning of the period   (658) (458)
Amortization charge for the year   (206) (187)
Disposals   91 60
Impairment     (2)
Translation adjustment   22 (71)
Balance at end of the period   (751) (658)
Amortization and impairment | Brands and trademarks      
Intangible assets      
Balance at beginning of the period   (219) (189)
Amortization charge for the year   (83) (37)
Translation adjustment   12 7
Balance at end of the period   (290) (219)
Amortization and impairment | Customer relationships      
Intangible assets      
Balance at beginning of the period   (1,516) (1,401)
Amortization charge for the year   (75) (97)
Disposals     6
Translation adjustment   37 (24)
Balance at end of the period   (1,554) (1,516)
Amortization and impairment | Other intangible assets      
Intangible assets      
Balance at beginning of the period   (209) (226)
Amortization charge for the year   (13) (15)
Disposals   8 13
Translation adjustment   21 19
Balance at end of the period   (193) $ (209)
Pakistan | Amortization and impairment | Brands and trademarks      
Intangible assets      
Amortization charge for the year   $ 45