Revenue Recognition - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 531,082	$ 501,792
North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	453,574	436,994
South and Central America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	26,863	24,488
All other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	50,645	40,310
Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	25,960	26,771
Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	386,259	322,839
Design, development and construction services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	25,066	16,176
Revenue from sales and services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	437,285	365,786
Lease revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	93,797	136,006
Operating segments | Hughes
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	445,337	400,818
Operating segments | Hughes | North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	367,829	336,020
Operating segments | Hughes | South and Central America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	26,863	24,488
Operating segments | Hughes | All other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	50,645	40,310
Operating segments | Hughes | Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	25,960	26,771
Operating segments | Hughes | Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	380,783	313,961
Operating segments | Hughes | Design, development and construction services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	25,066	16,176
Operating segments | Hughes | Revenue from sales and services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	431,809	356,908
Operating segments | Hughes | Lease revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	13,528	43,910
Operating segments | ESS
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	81,259	96,753
Operating segments | ESS | North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	81,084	96,578
Operating segments | ESS | South and Central America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Operating segments | ESS | All other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	175	175
Operating segments | ESS | Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Operating segments | ESS | Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	3,740	7,403
Operating segments | ESS | Design, development and construction services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Operating segments | ESS | Revenue from sales and services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	3,740	7,403
Operating segments | ESS | Lease revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	77,519	89,350
Corporate and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	4,486	4,221
Corporate and Other | North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	4,661	4,396
Corporate and Other | South and Central America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Corporate and Other | All other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	(175)	(175)
Corporate and Other | Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Corporate and Other | Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	1,736	1,475
Corporate and Other | Design, development and construction services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Corporate and Other | Revenue from sales and services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	1,736	1,475
Corporate and Other | Lease revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 2,750	$ 2,746