Segment Reporting - Geographic Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 532,953	$ 481,233	$ 1,560,702	$ 1,379,460
U.S.
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	437,617		1,294,581
Canada and Mexico
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	24,034		66,422
All Other Geographic Segments [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	71,302		199,699
Hughes Business
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	444,762	379,702	1,271,527	1,070,715
Hughes Business | Operating segments
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	444,762	380,061	1,271,886	1,072,143
Hughes Business | Operating segments | U.S.
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	355,263		1,023,276
Hughes Business | Operating segments | Canada and Mexico
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	18,197		48,911
Hughes Business | Operating segments | All Other Geographic Segments [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	71,302		199,699
ESS Business
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	83,482	96,743	274,609	294,839
ESS Business | Operating segments
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	84,007	97,093	276,185	295,785
ESS Business | Operating segments | U.S.
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	77,995		258,148
ESS Business | Operating segments | Canada and Mexico
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	5,837		17,511
ESS Business | Operating segments | All Other Geographic Segments [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	175		526
Corporate and Other
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	4,709	4,788	14,566	13,906
Corporate and Other | Corporate and Other
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	4,184	$ 4,079	12,631	$ 11,532
Corporate and Other | Corporate and Other | U.S.
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Total revenue	4,359		13,157
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	$ (175)		$ (526)