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, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 69,682	$ 69,193	$ 67,103	$ 66,035	$ 66,337	$ 71,042	$ 70,788	$ 67,973	$ 272,013	$ 276,140	$ 254,220
Income (loss) from operations	3,557	2,290	(196)	(79)	739	2,484	(1,184)	(4,228)	5,572	(2,189)	(40,882)
Net loss attributable to ORBCOMM Inc.	$ (2,501)	$ (4,013)	$ (6,419)	$ (5,490)	$ (5,641)	$ (3,295)	$ (7,222)	$ (10,086)	$ (18,423)	$ (26,244)	$ (61,284)
Net loss per common share-basic:
Net loss attributable to ORBCOMM Inc.	$ (0.03)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.07)	$ (0.07)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.09)	$ (0.13)
Net loss per common share-diluted:
Net loss attributable to ORBCOMM Inc.	$ (0.03)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.07)	$ (0.07)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.09)	$ (0.13)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	78,275	79,695	79,688	79,387	78,895	78,649	78,079	74,729	79,259	77,603	72,882
Diluted	78,275	79,695	79,688	79,387	78,895	78,649	78,079	74,729	79,259	77,603	72,882