Revenue Recognition - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 472,262	$ 456,274	$ 1,387,075	$ 1,308,655
Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	21,106	40,222	77,663	103,458
Sales and services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	389,946	344,734	1,161,006	997,570
Design, development and construction services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	42,328	16,624	93,254	46,676
Revenue from sales and services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	453,380	401,580	1,331,923	1,147,704
Lease revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	18,882	54,694	55,152	160,951
North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	397,685	384,869	1,155,298	1,108,681
South and Central America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	31,853	27,696	89,354	76,088
All other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	42,724	43,709	142,423	123,886
Hughes
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	463,735	444,762	1,360,919	1,271,527
ESS
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	3,772	6,802	11,058	22,562
Operating Segments | Hughes
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	463,735	444,762	1,360,919	1,271,886
Operating Segments | Hughes | Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	21,106	40,222	77,663	103,458
Operating Segments | Hughes | Sales and services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	385,477	337,585	1,147,868	975,647
Operating Segments | Hughes | Design, development and construction services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	42,328	16,624	93,254	46,676
Operating Segments | Hughes | Revenue from sales and services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	448,911	394,431	1,318,785	1,125,781
Operating Segments | Hughes | Lease revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	14,824	50,331	42,134	146,105
Operating Segments | Hughes | North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	389,264	373,460	1,129,491	1,072,187
Operating Segments | Hughes | South and Central America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	31,747	27,593	89,005	75,813
Operating Segments | Hughes | All other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	42,724	43,709	142,423	123,886
Operating Segments | ESS
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	4,098	6,802	11,873	22,562
Operating Segments | ESS | Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments | ESS | Sales and services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	2,737	5,766	7,953	17,632
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	2,737	5,766	7,953	17,632
Operating Segments | ESS | Lease revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	1,361	1,036	3,920	4,930
Operating Segments | ESS | North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	4,098	6,802	11,873	22,562
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	0	0	0	0
Corporate and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	4,429	4,710	14,283	14,207
Corporate and Other | Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Corporate and Other | Sales and services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	1,732	1,383	5,185	4,291
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	1,732	1,383	5,185	4,291
Corporate and Other | Lease revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	2,697	3,327	9,098	9,916
Corporate and Other | North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	4,323	4,607	13,934	13,932
Corporate and Other | South and Central America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	106	103	349	275
Corporate and Other | All other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0