Net Income (Loss) Attributable to ORBCOMM Inc. Common Stockholders - Summary of Basic and Diluted Calculations of EPS (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net loss attributable to ORBCOMM Inc. common stockholders	$ (5,525)	$ (4,025)	$ (19,170)	$ (15,934)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic number of common shares outstanding	77,962	79,695	78,115	79,591
Diluted number of common shares outstanding	77,962	79,695	78,115	79,591
Earnings per share:
Basic	$ (0.07)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.25)	$ (0.20)
Diluted	$ (0.07)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.25)	$ (0.20)