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, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 66,337	$ 71,042	$ 70,788	$ 67,973	$ 75,976	$ 69,366	$ 56,957	$ 51,921	$ 276,140	$ 254,220	$ 186,744
Loss from operations	739	2,484	(1,184)	(4,228)	(4,386)	(34,221)	(1,900)	(375)	(2,189)	(40,882)	(14,486)
Net loss attributable to ORBCOMM Inc.	$ (5,641)	$ (3,295)	$ (7,222)	$ (10,086)	$ (7,519)	$ (39,682)	$ (10,740)	$ (3,343)	$ (26,244)	$ (61,284)	$ (23,511)
Net loss per common share-basic:
Net loss attributable to ORBCOMM Inc.	$ (0.07)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.09)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.54)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.05)
Net loss per common share-diluted
Net loss attributable to ORBCOMM Inc.	$ (0.07)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.09)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.54)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.05)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	78,895	78,649	78,079	74,729	74,325	73,762	71,978	71,424	77,603	72,882	70,907
Diluted	78,895	78,649	78,079	74,729	74,325	73,762	71,978	71,424	77,603	72,882	70,907