Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 13,813	$ (66,469)	$ (68,275)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	279,733	262,289	210,441
Amortization of intangible assets	62,445	56,324	45,211
Stock-based compensation expense	86,553	79,599	68,545
Loss on disposition of fixed assets	45,622	41,957	32,978
Loss on extinguishment of debt			10,217
Other non-cash adjustments	(3,154)	(25,330)	(29,675)
Increase (decrease) in cash resulting from changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisition:
Accounts receivable	(44,807)	(46,108)	(12,439)
Inventories	(58,997)	(36,593)	(37,562)
Other assets	(3,313)	(2,349)	(25,975)
Accounts payable	28,175	(5,714)	32,503
Accrued liabilities	55,126	71,478	60,042
Other liabilities	(24,260)	(1,533)	72,622
Net cash provided by operating activities	436,936	327,551	358,633
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, equipment and satellites	(693,966)	(636,855)	(511,634)
Cash paid for patents, licenses and other assets	(67,112)	(49,965)	(72,853)
Proceeds from insurance claims on ViaSat-2 satellite	2,277	185,706
Proceeds from sale of real property		14,034
Payments related to acquisition of business, net of cash acquired		(2,339)
Net cash used in investing activities	(758,801)	(489,419)	(584,487)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from debt borrowings	420,000	1,110,000	752,503
Payments of debt borrowings	(59,691)	(732,840)	(575,000)
Payment of debt issuance costs	(2,479)	(9,767)	(9,759)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under equity plans	38,410	26,330	26,165
Purchase of common stock in treasury (immediately retired) related to tax withholdings for stock-based compensation	(28,802)	(28,826)	(24,206)
Proceeds from noncontrolling interest capital contribution			8,491
Other financing activities	(2,253)	(10,280)	(1,816)
Net cash provided by financing activities	365,185	354,617	165,776
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(712)	(2,494)	1,426
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	42,608	190,255	(58,652)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of fiscal year	261,701	71,446	130,098
Cash and cash equivalents at end of fiscal year	304,309	261,701	71,446
Supplemental information:
Cash paid for interest (net of amounts capitalized)	27,805	35,119	3,722
Cash paid for income taxes, net	10,950	1,758	4,021
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Issuance of common stock in satisfaction of certain accrued employee compensation liabilities	22,829	32,129	16,409
Capital expenditures not paid for	$ 43,606	40,619	41,149
Debt issuance costs not paid for		$ 2,479
2020 Notes [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Loss on extinguishment of debt			10,217
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of debt extinguishment costs			(10,602)
Ex-Im Credit Facility [Member]
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Exposure fees on Ex-Im credit facility financed through Ex-Im credit facility			$ 5,764