Name:	irdm_FirstAnniversaryVestingPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	irdm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Grant date fair value of restricted stock units during the period.

No definition available.

Name:	irdm_GrantDateFairValueOfRestrictedStockUnits
Namespace Prefix:	irdm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Grant date fair value of stock options during the period.

No definition available.

Name:	irdm_GrantDateFairValueOfStockOptions
Namespace Prefix:	irdm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The number of newly authorized shares under the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan.

No definition available.

Name:	irdm_NumberOfSharesStockIncentivePlanNewlyAuthorized
Namespace Prefix:	irdm_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Percentage Of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units Awards that vest after three years.

No definition available.

Name:	irdm_PercentageOfRestrictedStockUnitsAwardsVestedAfterThirdYear
Namespace Prefix:	irdm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage Of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units Awards that vest after two years

No definition available.

Name:	irdm_PercentageOfRestrictedStockUnitsAwardsVestedAfterTwoYears
Namespace Prefix:	irdm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The percentage of total stock options or restricted stock units that vest at the end of each calendar year quarter.

No definition available.

Name:	irdm_QuarterlyVestingPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	irdm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The estimated measure of the maximum percentage of performance-based shares to be vested during a period.

No definition available.

Name:	irdm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardRestrictedStockVestingRangeMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	irdm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The estimated measure of the minimum percentage of performance-based shares to be vested during a period.

No definition available.

Name:	irdm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardRestrictedStockVestingRangeMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	irdm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(2)(iii)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Gross number of share options (or share units) granted during the period.

No definition available.