Revenue Recognition - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 537,124	$ 525,957	$ 1,068,206	$ 1,027,749
Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	30,597	36,465	56,557	63,236
Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	386,639	332,426	772,898	655,265
Design, development and construction services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	25,860	13,876	50,926	30,052
Revenue from sales and services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	443,096	382,767	880,381	748,553
Lease revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	94,028	143,190	187,825	279,196
North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	457,675	462,358	911,249	899,352
South and Central America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	30,395	23,732	57,258	48,220
All other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	49,054	39,867	99,699	80,177
Operating segments | Hughes
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	451,847	426,306	897,184	827,124
Operating segments | Hughes | Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	30,597	36,465	56,557	63,236
Operating segments | Hughes | Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	381,608	324,101	762,391	638,062
Operating segments | Hughes | Design, development and construction services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	25,860	13,876	50,926	30,052
Operating segments | Hughes | Revenue from sales and services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	438,065	374,442	869,874	731,350
Operating segments | Hughes | Lease revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	13,782	51,864	27,310	95,774
Operating segments | Hughes | North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	372,398	362,707	740,227	698,727
Operating segments | Hughes | South and Central America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	30,395	23,732	57,258	48,220
Operating segments | Hughes | All other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	49,054	39,867	99,699	80,177
Operating segments | ESS
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	80,961	95,425	162,220	192,178
Operating segments | ESS | Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating segments | ESS | Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	3,315	6,890	7,055	14,293
Operating segments | ESS | Design, development and construction services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating segments | ESS | Revenue from sales and services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	3,315	6,890	7,055	14,293
Operating segments | ESS | Lease revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	77,646	88,535	155,165	177,885
Operating segments | ESS | North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	80,785	95,249	161,869	191,827
Operating segments | ESS | South and Central America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating segments | ESS | All other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	176	176	351	351
Corporate and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	4,316	4,226	8,802	8,447
Corporate and Other | Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Corporate and Other | Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	1,716	1,435	3,452	2,910
Corporate and Other | Design, development and construction services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Corporate and Other | Revenue from sales and services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	1,716	1,435	3,452	2,910
Corporate and Other | Lease revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	2,600	2,791	5,350	5,537
Corporate and Other | North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	4,492	4,402	9,153	8,798
Corporate and Other | South and Central America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Corporate and Other | All other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ (176)	$ (176)	$ (351)	$ (351)