v3.8.0.1

Grants and other liabilities (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) Type	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Oct. 02, 2013 USD ($)
Grants and other liabilities [Abstract]
Grants	$ 1,197,683		$ 1,225,877
Other liabilities	478,516		410,183
Grant and other non-current liabilities	$ 1,676,199		1,636,060
Number of grant types | Type	2
Solana and Mojave [Member]
Grants and other liabilities [Abstract]
Income from grants	$ 14,900	$ 15,000
U.S. Department of Treasury [Member]
Grants and other liabilities [Abstract]
Grants	763,000		771,000
Federal Financing Bank [Member]
Grants and other liabilities [Abstract]
Grants	432,000		452,000
Liberty Interactive Corporation [Member]
Grants and other liabilities [Abstract]
Grant and other non-current liabilities	357,000		$ 352,000
Class A membership investment				$ 300,000
Finance lease liabilities	$ 60,000

X

- Definition

The amount of non-current government grants recognized on the statement of financial position as deferred income and the amount of non-current financial liabilities including investments made by Liberty Interactive Corporation that the entity does not separately disclose in the same statement or note.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Refers to the number of grant types recognized by the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

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- References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The amount of non-current finance lease liabilities. [Refer: Finance lease liabilities]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Note Expiry date 2019-01-01
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-IssueDate 2017-01-01
-Paragraph 55
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- Definition

The amount of non-current government grants recognised on the statement of financial position as deferred income. [Refer: Government [member]; Deferred income; Government grants]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
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- Definition

The amount of non-current financial liabilities that the entity does not separately disclose in the same statement or note. [Refer: Other financial liabilities]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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- Definition

The amount of non-current liabilities that the entity does not separately disclose in the same statement or note. [Refer: Non-current liabilities]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
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- Definition

The amount of income recognised in relation to government grants. [Refer: Government grants]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
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