v3.26.1
Debt and Other Obligations (Indebtedness) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2026
Jun. 30, 2026
Jun. 30, 2025
Dec. 31, 2026
Dec. 31, 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 18,239 $ 18,239     $ 24,337
Less: current maturities of debt and other obligations 2,260 2,260     2,783
Non-current portion of long-term debt and other long-term obligations 15,979 15,979     21,554
Finance Lease Obligations 5 5      
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations 24 24 $ 0    
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount   5,456      
Repayments of Other Long-Term Debt [1]   5,426      
2018 Tower Revenue Notes 4.241% due 2048 [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations [2] 750 $ 750      
Fixed Rate Securitized Debt July 2018 Tower Revenue Notes [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Increase (Decrease)   5.00%      
Securitized Debt [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 1,031 $ 1,031     1,032
Securitized Debt [Member] | Fixed Rate Debt 2009 Securitized Notes A-2 [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 9.00% 9.00%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 22 $ 22     26
Securitized Debt [Member] | 2018 Tower Revenue Notes 4.241% due 2048 [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 4.241% 4.241%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations [2] $ 748 $ 748     748
Securitized Debt [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations [5]   (3)      
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount [5]   3,276      
Repayments of Other Long-Term Debt [1],[5]   3,276      
Securitized Debt [Member] | Senior Unsecured 2016 Notes 4.450% [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations   0      
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount   900      
Repayments of Other Long-Term Debt [1]   900      
Securitized Debt [Member] | Senior Unsecured 2016 Notes 3.7% [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations   0      
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount   750      
Repayments of Other Long-Term Debt [1]   750      
Securitized Debt [Member] | Open Market Debt Repurchases          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Other Deferred Costs, Net [5] 6 6      
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations [6]   27      
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount [6]   530      
Repayments of Other Long-Term Debt [1],[6]   500      
Installment Purchase Liabilities and Finance Leases | Securitized Debt [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations [7],[8] 261 261     258
Bank Debt [Member] | 2016 Term Loan A [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations [9] 0 0     1,056
Bank Debt [Member] | 2026 Term Loan A          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations [10],[11] $ 0 $ 0   $ 0  
High Yield Bonds [Member] | Senior Unsecured 2016 Notes 4.450% [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 4.50% 4.50%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 0 [12] $ 0 [12]     900
High Yield Bonds [Member] | Senior Unsecured 2016 Notes 3.7% [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 3.70% 3.70%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 0 [13] $ 0 [13]     750
High Yield Bonds [Member] | February 2021 Senior Unsecured 1.050% Notes          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 1.10% 1.10%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 1,000 [14] $ 1,000 [14]     999
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 4.000% Senior Unsecured Notes [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 4.00% 4.00%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 500 $ 500     499
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 2.900% Senior Unsecured Notes          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 2.90% 2.90%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 717 $ 717     748
High Yield Bonds [Member] | August 2017 Senior Unsecured 3.650% Notes [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 3.70% 3.70%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 978 $ 978     998
High Yield Bonds [Member] | January 2023 Senior Unsecured 5.000% Notes          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 5.00% 5.00%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 974 $ 974     996
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 3.800% Senior Notes [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 3.80% 3.80%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 976 $ 976     997
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 4.800% Senior Notes          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 4.80% 4.80%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 594 $ 594     596
High Yield Bonds [Member] | February 2019 Senior Unsecured 4.300% Notes [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 4.30% 4.30%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 555 $ 555     597
High Yield Bonds [Member] | December 2023 Senior Unsecured 5.600% Notes          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 5.60% 5.60%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 691 $ 691     744
High Yield Bonds [Member] | August 2024 Senior Unsecured 4.900% Notes          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 4.90% 4.90%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 541 $ 541     545
High Yield Bonds [Member] | August 2019 Senior Unsecured 3.100% Notes [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 3.10% 3.10%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 529 $ 529     547
High Yield Bonds [Member] | April 2020 Senior Unsecured 3.300% Notes [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 3.30% 3.30%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 704 $ 704     743
High Yield Bonds [Member] | June 2020 Senior Unsecured 2.250% Notes [Domain]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 2.30% 2.30%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 1,038 $ 1,038     1,094
High Yield Bonds [Member] | February 2021 Senior Unsecured 2.100% Notes          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 2.10% 2.10%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 975 $ 975     993
High Yield Bonds [Member] | June 2021 Senior Unsecured 2.500% Notes [Domain]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 2.50% 2.50%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 721 $ 721     745
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 5.100% Senior Notes          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 5.10% 5.10%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 733 $ 733     744
High Yield Bonds [Member] | December 2023 Senior Unsecured 5.800% Notes          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 5.80% 5.80%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 699 $ 699     743
High Yield Bonds [Member] | August 2024 Senior Unsecured 5.200% Notes          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 5.20% 5.20%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 641 $ 641     690
High Yield Bonds [Member] | February 2021 Senior Unsecured 2.900% Notes          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 2.90% 2.90%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 1,206 $ 1,206     1,236
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 4.750% Senior Unsecured Notes [Member] [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 4.80% 4.80%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 345 $ 345     345
High Yield Bonds [Member] | February 2019 Senior Unsecured 5.200% Notes [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 5.20% 5.20%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 392 $ 392     396
High Yield Bonds [Member] | August 2019 Senior Unsecured 4.000% Notes [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 4.00% 4.00%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 337 $ 337     346
High Yield Bonds [Member] | April 2020 Senior Unsecured 4.150% Notes [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 4.20% 4.20%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 484 $ 484     491
High Yield Bonds [Member] | June 2020 Senior Unsecured 3.250% Notes [Domain]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [3],[4] 3.30% 3.30%      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 878 $ 878     891
Unsecured Debt [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 17,208 $ 17,208     23,305
Maximum [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 0.375% 0.375%      
Maximum [Member] | Installment Purchase Liabilities and Finance Leases          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 8.00% 8.00%      
Maximum [Member] | Installment purchases          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument Maturity Date Range   20 years      
Minimum [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 0.00% 0.00%      
Minimum [Member] | Installment purchases          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument Maturity Date Range   one year      
Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap Rate | Maximum [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 1.375% 1.375%      
Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap Rate | Minimum [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 0.75% 0.75%      
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt Instrument, Unused Borrowing Capacity, Amount $ 4,500 $ 4,500      
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations [9] 0 $ 0     945
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Percentage   0.20%      
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Percentage   0.08%      
Commercial Paper [Member] | Bank Debt [Member]          
Debt Instrument [Line Items]          
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 0 [15] $ 0 [15]     $ 1,931
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date, Description   397 days      
[1] Exclusive of accrued interest.
[2] If the $750 million aggregate principal amount of 4.241% senior secured tower revenue notes ("Tower Revenue Notes, Series 2018-2") is not paid in full on or prior to July 2028, the anticipated repayment date, then Excess Cash Flow (as defined in the indenture) of the issuers of such notes will be used to repay the principal, and additional interest (of an approximately 5% per annum) will accrue on such notes. The Tower Revenue Notes, Series 2018-2 are prepayable at par if voluntarily repaid within eighteen months of the anticipated repayment date; earlier prepayment may require additional consideration.
[3] Represents the weighted-average stated interest rate, as applicable.
[4] See the 2025 Form 10-K, including note 8 to the consolidated financial statements, for additional information regarding the maturity and principal amortization provisions and interest rates relating to the Company's indebtedness.
[5] See below for discussion of the 2016 Credit Facility
[6] See above for discussion of the Open Market Debt Repurchases.
[7] The Company's installment purchases primarily relate to land and bear interest rates up to 8% and mature in periods ranging from less than one year to approximately 20 years.
[8] For the periods ended June 30, 2026, and December 31, 2025, reflects $5 million, respectively for both periods, in finance lease obligations (primarily related to vehicles).
(f)In May 2026, the Company repaid all outstanding borrowings under and terminated the commitments under the 2016 Term Loan A and the 2016 Revolver.
[9] In May 2026, the Company repaid all outstanding borrowings under and terminated the commitments under the 2016 Term Loan A and the 2016 Revolver.
[10] As of June 30, 2026, the undrawn availability under the Company's senior unsecured revolving credit facility ("2026 Revolver") was $4.5 billion.
[11] The 2026 Revolver bears interest, at the Company's option, at either (1) Term SOFR plus (i) a credit spread ranging from 0.750% to 1.375% per annum or (2) an alternate base rate plus a credit spread ranging from 0.000% to 0.375% per annum, in each case, with the applicable credit spread based on the Company's senior unsecured debt rating. The Company pays a commitment fee ranging from 0.080% to 0.200%, based on the Company's senior unsecured debt rating, per annum on the undrawn available amount under the 2026 Revolver.
[12] In February 2026, the Company repaid in full the 4.450% Senior Notes on the contractual maturity date.
[13] In June 2026, the Company repaid in full the 3.700% Senior Notes on the contractual maturity date
[14] In July 2026, the Company repaid in full the 1.050% Senior Notes on the contractual maturity date
[15] The maturities of the short-term, unsecured commercial paper notes ("Commercial Paper Notes"), when outstanding, may vary but may not exceed 397 days from the date of issue; however, there were no Commercial Paper Notes issued or outstanding as of June 30, 2026. The Commercial Paper Notes are issued under customary terms in the commercial paper market and are issued at a discount from par or, alternatively, can be issued at par and bear varying interest rates on a fixed or floating basis. At any point in time, the Company intends to maintain available commitments under its 2026 Revolver in an amount at least equal to the amount of Commercial Paper Notes outstanding. While any outstanding Commercial Paper Notes generally have short-term maturities, the Company classifies the outstanding issuances, when applicable, as long-term based on its ability and intent to refinance the outstanding issuances on a long-term basis.
(j)In February 2026, the Company repaid in full the 4.450% Senior Notes on the contractual maturity date.
(k)In June 2026, the Company repaid in full the 3.700% Senior Notes on the contractual maturity date.