Supplemental Data - Statements of Cash Flows (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands, shares in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 02, 2024 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($)	Apr. 01, 2024 shares	Mar. 31, 2024 USD ($)	Mar. 04, 2024 USD ($) employee $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)
Supplemental Data - Statements of Cash Flows
Cash paid for interest (including capitalized interest)				$ 798,598	$ 851,275
Cash paid for interest Intercompany Loan 2026 Tranche				64,582
Cash received for interest				8,832	11,578
Cash paid for income taxes, net of (refunds)				(22,268)	(10,113)
Cash paid for income taxes to EchoStar, net of (refunds)		$ 0		0
Capitalized interest				684,204	969,736
Employee benefits paid in Class A common stock					14,680
Vendor financing					87,343
Asset retirement obligation		5,051	$ 11,229	14,010	65,580
Asset Transfer to EchoStar, net of deferred taxes of $3,775,370				15,778,363
Conversion of outstanding redeemable noncontrolling interest in SNR HoldCo to noncontrolling interest				441,998
Orbital II Transfer from EchoStar	$ 141,000			140,510
Deferred tax liabilities, net		8,270,093		8,270,093					$ 4,557,262
Accrued Upfront Payment					100,000
Unsettled sales of marketable investment securities					119,068
EchoStar
Supplemental Data - Statements of Cash Flows
Exchange Agreement Number of stock options exchanged | shares						7
Deferred tax liabilities, net		$ 3,775,370		3,775,370			$ 3,775,370
EchoStar
Supplemental Data - Statements of Cash Flows
Number of stock options outstanding (in shares) | shares								3
Number of eligible employees | employee								800
Options Outstanding, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares								$ 14.04
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense								$ 11,000
Wireless equipment
Supplemental Data - Statements of Cash Flows
Accrued capital expenditures				$ 110,058	$ 222,941