Revenue Recognition - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 459,466	$ 460,431	$ 925,132	$ 914,813
Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	403,254	385,723	797,307	771,060
Lease revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	13,789	17,063	28,093	34,394
Services and other revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	417,043	402,786	825,400	805,454
Equipment revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	18,518	30,597	43,357	56,557
Design, development and construction services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	22,668	25,860	54,225	50,926
Lease revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	1,237	1,188	2,150	1,876
Equipment revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	42,423	57,645	99,732	109,359
North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	390,817	380,879	780,624	757,613
South and Central America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	34,061	30,498	68,109	57,501
All other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	34,588	49,054	76,399	99,699
Hughes
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	453,172	451,847	911,654	897,184
ESS
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	3,786	3,434	8,153	7,286
Operating Segments | Hughes
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	453,172	451,847	911,654	897,184
Operating Segments | Hughes | Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	399,697	381,608	789,697	762,391
Operating Segments | Hughes | Lease revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	11,052	12,594	22,225	25,434
Operating Segments | Hughes | Services and other revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	410,749	394,202	811,922	787,825
Operating Segments | Hughes | Equipment revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	18,518	30,597	43,357	56,557
Operating Segments | Hughes | Design, development and construction services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	22,668	25,860	54,225	50,926
Operating Segments | Hughes | Lease revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	1,237	1,188	2,150	1,876
Operating Segments | Hughes | Equipment revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	42,423	57,645	99,732	109,359
Operating Segments | Hughes | North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	384,623	372,398	767,338	740,227
Operating Segments | Hughes | South and Central America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	33,961	30,395	67,917	57,258
Operating Segments | Hughes | All other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	34,588	49,054	76,399	99,699
Operating Segments | ESS
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	4,179	3,742	8,831	7,775
Operating Segments | ESS | Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	2,564	2,400	5,329	5,217
Operating Segments | ESS | Lease revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	1,615	1,342	3,502	2,558
Operating Segments | ESS | Services and other revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	4,179	3,742	8,831	7,775
Operating Segments | ESS | Equipment revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments | ESS | Design, development and construction services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments | ESS | Lease revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments | ESS | Equipment revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments | ESS | North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	4,179	3,742	8,831	7,775
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	2,115	4,842	4,647	9,854
Corporate and Other | Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	993	1,715	2,281	3,452
Corporate and Other | Lease revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	1,122	3,127	2,366	6,402
Corporate and Other | Services and other revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	2,115	4,842	4,647	9,854
Corporate and Other | Equipment revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Corporate and Other | Design, development and construction services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Corporate and Other | Lease revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Corporate and Other | Equipment revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Corporate and Other | North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	2,015	4,739	4,455	9,611
Corporate and Other | South and Central America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	100	103	192	243
Corporate and Other | All other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0