Quarterly Financial Data - Quarterly Results of Operations (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 44,996	$ 46,084	$ 44,883	$ 42,330	$ 29,468	$ 23,126	$ 24,298	$ 19,350	$ 178,293	$ 96,242	$ 74,212
(Loss) income from operations	2,435	3,193	(11,566)	(1,277)	(3,260)	75	1,794	(215)	(7,215)	(1,606)	5,701
Net (loss) income attributable to ORBCOMM Inc.	$ 239	$ 1,591	$ (12,208)	$ (2,873)	$ (5,623)	$ (33)	$ 1,403	$ (431)	$ (13,251)	$ (4,684)	$ 4,599
Net (loss) income per common share-basic:
Net (loss) income attributable to ORBCOMM Inc.	$ 0.00	$ 0.02	$ (0.17)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.09)	$ 0.00	$ 0.03	$ (0.01)	$ (0.19)	$ (0.08)
Net (loss) income per common share-diluted
Net (loss) income attributable to ORBCOMM Inc.	$ 0.00	$ 0.02	$ (0.17)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.09)	$ 0.00	$ 0.02	$ (0.01)	$ (0.19)	$ (0.08)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	70,546	70,460	70,427	70,238	62,984	55,247	55,199	53,213	70,419	56,684	47,420
Diluted	72,209	71,918	70,427	70,238	62,984	55,247	56,780	53,213	70,419	56,684	48,770