Segment Reporting - Geographic Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 525,957	$ 465,076	$ 1,027,749	$ 898,227
U.S.
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	441,389		856,964
Canada and Mexico
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	20,969		42,388
All Other Geographic Segments [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	63,599		128,397
Hughes Business
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	426,306	362,403	826,765	691,013
Hughes Business | Operating segments
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	426,306	362,762	827,124	692,082
Hughes Business | Operating segments | U.S.
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	347,575		668,013
Hughes Business | Operating segments | Canada and Mexico
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	15,132		30,714
Hughes Business | Operating segments | All Other Geographic Segments [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	63,599		128,397
ESS Business
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	94,904	97,945	191,127	198,096
ESS Business | Operating segments
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	95,425	98,366	192,178	198,692
ESS Business | Operating segments | U.S.
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	89,412		180,153
ESS Business | Operating segments | Canada and Mexico
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	5,837		11,674
ESS Business | Operating segments | All Other Geographic Segments [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	176		351
Corporate and Other
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	4,747	4,728	9,857	9,118
Corporate and Other | Corporate and Other
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	4,226	$ 3,948	8,447	$ 7,453
Corporate and Other | Corporate and Other | U.S.
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	4,402		8,798
Corporate and Other | Corporate and Other | Canada and Mexico
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	0		0
Corporate and Other | Corporate and Other | All Other Geographic Segments [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ (176)		$ (351)