Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Accounting policy disclosures
Capitalized Contract Cost	$ 38,000,000	$ 37,000,000
Amortization expense related to the programs	27,000,000	14,000,000
Total costs capitalized	$ 311,000,000		$ 300,000,000
Revenue, Practical Expedient, Financing Component [true false]	true
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Asset Impairment Charges	$ 356,418,000
Research and Development
Research and development cost	$ 6,000,000	$ 5,000,000
Leases
Option to extend - Operating	true
Option to extend - Finance	true
Option to terminate period - Operating	1 year
Option to terminate period - Finance	1 year
Option to terminate - Operating	true
Option to terminate - Finance	true
Minimum
Leases
Option to extend period - Operating	1 year
Option to extend period - Finance	1 year
Maximum
Leases
Option to extend period - Operating	8 years
Option to extend period - Finance	8 years
NBIoT capitalized costs
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Asset Impairment Charges	$ 253,000,000
Northstar Manager LLC | Minimum
Variable Interest Entity
Number of years after wireless spectrum license is granted until put right vests	5 years
Northstar Manager LLC | Maximum
Variable Interest Entity
Number of years after wireless spectrum license is granted until put right vests	6 years
SNR Wireless Management LLC | Minimum
Variable Interest Entity
Number of years after wireless spectrum license is granted until put right vests	5 years
SNR Wireless Management LLC | Maximum
Variable Interest Entity
Number of years after wireless spectrum license is granted until put right vests	6 years
AWS-4 Satellites
Accounting policy disclosures
Fair value after write down	$ 0
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Asset Impairment Charges	$ 103,000,000