Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 266,254	$ 270,607	$ 247,880
Total revenues	272,013	276,140	254,220
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	69,590	66,988	55,753
Product development	14,720	13,405	8,941
Impairment charges - satellite network			31,224
Depreciation and amortization	50,702	49,684	45,681
Acquisition-related and integration costs	788	1,624	3,315
Income (loss) from operations	5,572	(2,189)	(40,882)
Other (expense) income:
Interest income	1,957	1,918	959
Other income (expense)	(129)	45	(160)
Interest expense	(21,149)	(21,055)	(17,653)
Loss on debt extinguishment			(3,868)
Total other expense	(19,321)	(19,092)	(20,722)
Loss before income taxes	(13,749)	(21,281)	(61,604)
Income taxes	4,383	4,658	(409)
Net loss	(18,132)	(25,939)	(61,195)
Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	291	305	89
Net loss attributable to ORBCOMM Inc.	(18,423)	(26,244)	(61,284)
Net loss attributable to ORBCOMM Inc. common stockholders	$ (18,435)	$ (26,262)	$ (61,296)
Per share information-basic:
Net loss attributable to ORBCOMM Inc. common stockholders	$ (0.23)	$ (0.34)	$ (0.84)
Per share information-diluted:
Net loss attributable to ORBCOMM Inc. common stockholders	$ (0.23)	$ (0.34)	$ (0.84)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	79,259	77,603	72,882
Diluted	79,259	77,603	72,882
Service [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 160,594	$ 153,589	$ 134,938
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below:
Cost of goods and services sold	52,264	53,184	50,548
Product [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues	105,660	117,018	112,942
Total revenues	111,419	122,551	119,282
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below:
Cost of goods and services sold	$ 78,377	$ 93,444	$ 99,640