Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail)				1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Oct. 26, 2016 USD ($) Patent	Jul. 15, 2016 USD ($)	Jul. 14, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Patent	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2001 USD ($)	Feb. 09, 2017 Patent	Oct. 19, 2016 Patent	Jul. 18, 2016 Patent	Apr. 07, 2016 Patent
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Non-cash impairment charge								$ 10,680,000	$ 12,748,000	$ 605,000
Lease payment and rent expense								3,047,000	2,692,000	2,384,000
Carrier Data Providers [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Future minimum payments for the year, 2017								7,283,000
Future minimum payments for the year, 2018								5,699,000
Future minimum payments for the year, 2019								5,531,000
Future minimum payments for the year, 2020								3,699,000
Future minimum payments for the year, 2021								3,699,000
Vendor Parts Supplier [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Future minimum payments for the year, 2017								1,017,000
Future minimum payments for the year, 2018								1,950,000
Future minimum payments for the year, 2019								1,058,000
Procurement Agreement [Member] | Europe [Member] | Airtime [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Credits provided											$ 3,736,000
Credits used								28,000	29,000	$ 30,000
Unused credits granted								2,009,000	$ 2,038,000
In-orbit OG2 Satellites One [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Non-cash impairment charge				$ 12,748,000
Removal/decrease in satellite network and other equipment, net				13,788,000
Accumulated depreciation on equipment				$ 1,040,000
OG2 Satellite Impairment [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Non-cash impairment charge						$ 10,680,000	$ 12,748,000
Removal/decrease in satellite network and other equipment, net						13,474,000	13,788,000	13,474,000
Accumulated depreciation on equipment						$ 2,794,000	$ 1,040,000	$ 2,794,000
Launch Plus One Year In Orbit Insurance Coverage for First Launch of Six Satellites [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Insurance coverage on launch of satellite program					$ 66,000,000
Launch Vehicle Flight Only Insurance Coverage for First Launch of Six Satellites [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Insurance coverage on launch of satellite program					22,000,000
First Launch of Six Satellites [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Premium cost for launch of satellite					9,953,000
Launch Plus One Year In Orbit Insurance Coverage for Second Launch of Eleven Satellites [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Insurance coverage on launch of satellite program					120,000,000
Launch Vehicle Flight Only Insurance Coverage for Second Launch of Eleven Satellites [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Insurance coverage on launch of satellite program					22,000,000
Second Launch of Eleven Satellites [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Premium cost for launch of satellite					$ 16,454,000
Percentage of premium as to aggregate premium					5.00%
Launch Plus One Year In-orbit Insurance Coverage for Five Satellites [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Insurance coverage on launch of satellite program			$ 40,000,000
Extended insurance premium cost for satellites		$ 179,000
Extended insurance coverage end date		Dec. 21, 2016
CalAmp Corp [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of patent infringement | Patent															5
Number of patent denied for reconsideration | Patent													4
Number of invalid patent suit | Patent													1
Number of patent claims dismissed | Patent								4
Number of remaining patent in-suit | Patent								1						1
Actions taken by court which impacted the lawsuit								Each of ORBCOMM and CalAmp have filed motions for summary judgment with respect to CalAmp’s counterclaim for inequitable conduct related to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office action to correct the one remaining patent-in-suit. CalAmp’s motion seeks summary judgment finding inequitable conduct rendering the patent unenforceable and providing a basis to seek an award of its legal fees. ORBCOMM’s motion seeks summary judgment to dismiss such counterclaim. The Court’s ruling on these competing motions remains pending.
CalAmp Wireless Networks Corporation [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of patent infringement | Patent	2
Accrual for claims	$ 0
CalAmp Wireless Networks Corporation [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Number of invalid patent suit | Patent												1