$IRDM
Iridium Communications Inc. Stock $irdm

$irdm Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2013 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000114420414013118 Filed on March 04, 2014

Income Statement

Concept	2013	2012 Q4	2012 Q3
Revenue	$382.6M	$92.28M	$100.4M
YoY Change	-0.23%	-2.86%	-1.62%
Cost Of Revenue	$59.35M	$25.40M	$28.20M
YoY Change	-2.61%	-20.38%	-10.76%
Gross Profit	$323.3M	$66.90M	$72.20M
YoY Change	0.22%	6.02%	2.27%
Gross Profit Margin	84.49%	72.49%	71.88%
Selling, General & Admin	$75.22M	$15.00M	$16.50M
YoY Change	11.29%	-3.23%	0.0%
% of Gross Profit	23.27%	22.42%	22.85%
Research & Development	$11.15M	$2.800M	$3.600M
YoY Change	-28.19%	-64.56%	16.13%
% of Gross Profit	3.45%	4.19%	4.99%
Depreciation & Amortization	$74.98M	$81.10M	$20.50M
YoY Change	-7.56%	239.33%	-23.51%
% of Gross Profit	23.19%	121.23%	28.39%
Operating Expenses	$272.8M	$35.90M	$40.60M
YoY Change	-2.04%	-24.1%	-12.31%
Operating Profit	$109.9M	$31.02M	$31.69M
YoY Change	4.59%	96.35%	30.4%
Interest Expense	$583.0K	$500.0K	$300.0K
YoY Change	411.4%	25.0%	0.0%
% of Operating Profit	0.53%	1.61%	0.95%
Other Income/Expense, Net	$571.0K	-$3.300M	-$2.500M
YoY Change	-105.68%	65.0%	-19.35%
Pretax Income	$110.5M	$28.20M	$29.50M
YoY Change	16.26%	100.0%	37.85%
Income Tax	$47.95M	$11.50M	$11.70M
% Of Pretax Income	43.41%	40.78%	39.66%
Net Earnings	$62.52M	$16.71M	$17.84M
YoY Change	-3.27%	72.28%	48.66%
Net Earnings / Revenue	16.34%	18.11%	17.76%
Basic Earnings Per Share	$0.72	$0.20	$0.24
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$0.71	$0.19	$0.23
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding	76.91M		74.38M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding	87.51M		76.13M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2013	2012 Q4	2012 Q3
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$263.0M	$254.4M	$189.4M
YoY Change	3.38%	86.52%	51.76%
Cash & Equivalents	$88.80M	$254.4M	$189.4M
Short-Term Investments	$88.10M	$0.00
Other Short-Term Assets	$22.30M	$26.00M	$15.00M
YoY Change	-14.23%	85.71%	48.51%
Inventory	$29.50M	$26.34M	$24.30M
Prepaid Expenses
Receivables	$54.80M	$56.14M	$54.70M
Other Receivables	$0.00	$4.300M	$4.400M
Total Short-Term Assets	$369.6M	$367.2M	$287.8M
YoY Change	0.65%	61.6%	33.36%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$1.576B	$1.211B	$1.010B
YoY Change	30.14%	43.6%	38.79%
Goodwill		$87.04M
YoY Change
Intangibles		$70.50M
YoY Change
Long-Term Investments
YoY Change
Other Assets	$220.2M	$2.912M	$170.1M
YoY Change	21.72%	-97.82%	33.41%
Total Long-Term Assets	$1.940B	$1.549B	$1.341B
YoY Change	25.25%	35.06%	30.3%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$369.6M	$367.2M	$287.8M
Total Long-Term Assets	$1.940B	$1.549B	$1.341B
Total Assets	$2.310B	$1.916B	$1.629B
YoY Change	20.53%	39.45%	30.83%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$12.90M	$13.83M	$13.80M
YoY Change	-6.52%	-44.22%	150.91%
Accrued Expenses	$47.20M	$32.10M	$43.40M
YoY Change	47.04%	-9.83%	11.28%
Deferred Revenue
YoY Change
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Long-Term Debt Due
YoY Change
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$101.5M	$88.65M	$98.40M
YoY Change	14.43%	-7.56%	24.56%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$1.039B	$751.8M	$588.9M
YoY Change	38.23%	80.24%	81.03%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$26.80M	$13.80M	$32.10M
YoY Change	-14.92%	-57.68%	7.36%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$1.066B	$13.80M	$621.0M
YoY Change	36.09%	-96.93%	74.83%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$101.5M	$88.65M	$98.40M
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$1.066B	$13.80M	$621.0M
Total Liabilities	$1.370B	$1.040B	$864.1M
YoY Change	31.78%	54.68%	56.06%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings		$83.33M
YoY Change
Common Stock		$76.00K
YoY Change
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)
YoY Change
Treasury Stock Shares
Shareholders Equity	$939.5M	$876.6M	$764.9M
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$2.310B	$1.916B	$1.629B
YoY Change	20.53%	39.45%	30.83%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2013	2012 Q4	2012 Q3
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$62.52M	$16.71M	$17.84M
YoY Change	-3.27%	72.28%	48.66%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$74.98M	$81.10M	$20.50M
YoY Change	-7.56%	239.33%	-23.51%
Cash From Operating Activities	$183.0M	$41.30M	$43.30M
YoY Change	5.17%	-19.96%	-9.41%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	$403.5M	-$220.4M	-$34.60M
YoY Change	-8.63%	85.05%	-50.14%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	-$82.30M	-$1.900M
YoY Change	4231.58%	-2000.0%
Cash From Investing Activities	-$485.8M	-$222.2M	-$34.60M
YoY Change	9.54%	86.72%	-50.14%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid	$7.000M
YoY Change	393.31%
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net	$0.00
YoY Change
Debt Paid & Issued, Net
YoY Change
Cash From Financing Activities	234.7M	245.9M	14.10M
YoY Change	-39.45%	211.27%	-66.98%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	183.0M	41.30M	43.30M
Cash From Investing Activities	-485.8M	-222.2M	-34.60M
Cash From Financing Activities	234.7M	245.9M	14.10M
Net Change In Cash	-68.10M	65.00M	22.80M
YoY Change	-157.66%	460.34%	8.06%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	$183.0M	$41.30M	$43.30M
Capital Expenditures	$403.5M	-$220.4M	-$34.60M
Free Cash Flow	-$220.5M	$261.7M	$77.90M
YoY Change	-17.6%	53.31%	-33.53%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual ProductWarrantyAccrual	4101000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual ProductWarrantyAccrual	4050000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued ProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	4795000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued ProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	11690000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Payments ProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	4846000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Payments ProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	6887000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual ProductWarrantyAccrual	8853000	USD
CY2012	irdm	Contribution To Warranty Provision ContributionToWarrantyProvision	1200000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Contribution To Warranty Provision ContributionToWarrantyProvision	6900000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	254418000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	186342000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Marketable Securities MarketableSecurities	0	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Marketable Securities MarketableSecurities	76647000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	56135000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	54758000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	26335000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	29532000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net Current DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent	21160000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net Current DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent	9076000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Income Taxes Receivable IncomeTaxesReceivable	4302000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Income Taxes Receivable IncomeTaxesReceivable	685000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	4816000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	12518000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	367166000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	369558000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	1210693000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	1575579000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent	54233000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent	81223000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	2912000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	8909000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	70502000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	57452000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Finance Costs Noncurrent Net DeferredFinanceCostsNoncurrentNet	123796000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Finance Costs Noncurrent Net DeferredFinanceCostsNoncurrentNet	130036000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	87039000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	87039000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	1916341000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	2309796000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	13834000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	12934000	USD
CY2012Q4	irdm	Accrued Expenses And Other Current Liabilities AccruedExpensesAndOtherCurrentLiabilities	26704000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Accrued Expenses And Other Current Liabilities AccruedExpensesAndOtherCurrentLiabilities	39209000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Interest Payable Current InterestPayableCurrent	5359000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Interest Payable Current InterestPayableCurrent	7989000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Current DeferredRevenueCurrent	42755000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Current DeferredRevenueCurrent	41367000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	88652000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	101499000	USD
CY2012Q4	irdm	Accrued Satellite Operations And Maintenance Expense Noncurrent AccruedSatelliteOperationsAndMaintenanceExpenseNoncurrent	17727000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Accrued Satellite Operations And Maintenance Expense Noncurrent AccruedSatelliteOperationsAndMaintenanceExpenseNoncurrent	16389000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Line Of Credit LongTermLineOfCredit	751787000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Line Of Credit LongTermLineOfCredit	1039203000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Noncurrent DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent	167821000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Noncurrent DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent	202825000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	13796000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	10385000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	1039783000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	1370301000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Value PreferredStockValue	0	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Value PreferredStockValue	0	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	76000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	77000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital AdditionalPaidInCapital	793511000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-357000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital AdditionalPaidInCapital	801262000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	83328000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	138845000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-689000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	876558000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	939495000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	1916341000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	2309796000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash	166326000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash	86074000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Within One Year Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearAmortizedCost	3004000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After One Year Within Three Years Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneYearWithinThreeYearsAmortizedCost	54044000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Availableforsale Securities Continuous Unrealized Gain Position Less Than12 Months Aggregate Gain AvailableforsaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedGainPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateGain	0	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer Aggregate Losses AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses	16000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Within One Year Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearFairValue	3004000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After One Year Within Three Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneYearWithinThreeYearsFairValue	54028000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Commercial Paper Mature Within One Year Amortized Cost CommercialPaperMatureWithinOneYearAmortizedCost	19615000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Commercial Paper Mature Within One Year Unrealized Loss CommercialPaperMatureWithinOneYearUnrealizedLoss	0	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Commercial Paper Mature Within One Year Estimated Fair Value CommercialPaperMatureWithinOneYearEstimatedFairValue	19615000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost	76663000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Availableforsale Securities Gross Unrealized Gain Loss1 AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLoss1	-16000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities AvailableForSaleSecurities	76647000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Current OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent	2702000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Two Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears	2867000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Three Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears	2291000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Four Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears	2239000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Five Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFiveYears	2302000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Thereafter OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueThereafter	7402000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDue	19803000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Lease Extended Period LeaseExtendedPeriod	2024
CY2013	irdm	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Restricted Stock Vesting Range Minimum ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardRestrictedStockVestingRangeMinimum	0	pure
CY2013	irdm	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Restricted Stock Vesting Range Maximum ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardRestrictedStockVestingRangeMaximum	1.5	pure
CY2013	irdm	Percentage Of Restricted Stock Units Awards Vested After Two Years PercentageOfRestrictedStockUnitsAwardsVestedAfterTwoYears	0.5	pure
CY2013	irdm	Percentage Of Restricted Stock Units Awards Vested After Third Year PercentageOfRestrictedStockUnitsAwardsVestedAfterThirdYear	0.5	pure
CY2013	irdm	Price Per Share Of Warrants PricePerShareOfWarrants	7.00
CY2012	irdm	Issuance Of Common Stock For Exchange Warrants IssuanceOfCommonStockForExchangeWarrants	1300000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Issued PreferredStockSharesIssued	1000000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Liquidation Preference PreferredStockLiquidationPreference	100
CY2012Q4	irdm	Preferred Stock Convertible Conversion Price PreferredStockConvertibleConversionPrice	9.43
CY2012	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Warrant Issued AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalWarrantIssued	9100000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	41035000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	62939000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	55517000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Undistributed Earnings Allocated To Participating Securities UndistributedEarningsAllocatedToParticipatingSecurities	29000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Undistributed Earnings Allocated To Participating Securities UndistributedEarningsAllocatedToParticipatingSecurities	54000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Undistributed Earnings Allocated To Participating Securities UndistributedEarningsAllocatedToParticipatingSecurities	46000	USD
CY2011	irdm	Numerator For Basic Net Income Loss Per Share NumeratorForBasicNetIncomeLossPerShare	41006000	USD
CY2012	irdm	Numerator For Basic Net Income Loss Per Share NumeratorForBasicNetIncomeLossPerShare	62885000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Numerator For Basic Net Income Loss Per Share NumeratorForBasicNetIncomeLossPerShare	55471000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Dividends Dividends	0	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Dividends Dividends	-1692000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Dividends Dividends	-7000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Diluted NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersDiluted	41006000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Diluted NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersDiluted	64577000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Diluted NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersDiluted	62471000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	72164000	shares
CY2012	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	74239000	shares
CY2013	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	76909000	shares
CY2011	irdm	Dilutive Effect Of Warrants DilutiveEffectOfWarrants	1395000	shares
CY2012	irdm	Dilutive Effect Of Warrants DilutiveEffectOfWarrants	1272000	shares
CY2013	irdm	Dilutive Effect Of Warrants DilutiveEffectOfWarrants	0	shares
CY2011	irdm	Dilutive Effect Of Stock Options DilutiveEffectOfStockOptions	0	shares
CY2012	irdm	Dilutive Effect Of Stock Options DilutiveEffectOfStockOptions	6000	shares
CY2013	irdm	Dilutive Effect Of Stock Options DilutiveEffectOfStockOptions	0	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Conversion Of Preferred Stock IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToConversionOfPreferredStock	0	shares
CY2012	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Conversion Of Preferred Stock IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToConversionOfPreferredStock	2665000	shares
CY2013	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Conversion Of Preferred Stock IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToConversionOfPreferredStock	10602000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	73559000	shares
CY2012	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	78182000	shares
CY2013	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	87511000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.57
CY2012	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.85
CY2013	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.72
CY2011	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.56
CY2012	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.83
CY2013	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.71
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.0001
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.0001
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	1000000	shares
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	1000000	shares
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Issued PreferredStockSharesIssued	1000000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Outstanding PreferredStockSharesOutstanding	1000000	shares
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Outstanding PreferredStockSharesOutstanding	1000000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.001
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.001
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	300000000	shares
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	300000000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	76461000	shares
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	76690000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	76461000	shares
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	76690000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Services Net SalesRevenueServicesNet	262322000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Services Net SalesRevenueServicesNet	273491000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Services Net SalesRevenueServicesNet	292092000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Goods Net SalesRevenueGoodsNet	94709000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Goods Net SalesRevenueGoodsNet	93866000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Goods Net SalesRevenueGoodsNet	73303000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Contracts Revenue ContractsRevenue	27276000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Contracts Revenue ContractsRevenue	16163000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Contracts Revenue ContractsRevenue	17254000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	384307000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	383520000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	382649000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Cost Of Services CostOfServices	71181000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Cost Of Services CostOfServices	60937000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-3332000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	13000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	0	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Cost Of Services CostOfServices	59346000	USD
CY2012Q4	irdm	Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill Gross IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwillGross	35225000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	307306000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	278446000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods Sold CostOfGoodsSold	54113000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods Sold CostOfGoodsSold	53285000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods Sold CostOfGoodsSold	52062000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	18684000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	15525000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	11149000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	65682000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	67589000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	75218000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	97646000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	81110000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	74980000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	272755000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	77001000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	105074000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	109894000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Interest Income Expense Net InterestIncomeExpenseNet	1200000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Interest Income Expense Net InterestIncomeExpenseNet	1072000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Interest Income Expense Net InterestIncomeExpenseNet	2276000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Commitment Fee Amount LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeeAmount	12524000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Commitment Fee Amount LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeeAmount	10232000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Commitment Fee Amount LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeeAmount	7708000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	-96000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	-896000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	6003000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Nonoperating Income Expense NonoperatingIncomeExpense	-11420000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Nonoperating Income Expense NonoperatingIncomeExpense	-10056000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Nonoperating Income Expense NonoperatingIncomeExpense	571000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	65581000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	95018000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	110465000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	24546000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	30387000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	47948000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	41035000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	64631000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	62517000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Dividends Preferred Stock DividendsPreferredStock	0	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Dividends Preferred Stock DividendsPreferredStock	1692000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Dividends Preferred Stock DividendsPreferredStock	7000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-315000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-132000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-322000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	0	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	0	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-10000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	40720000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	64499000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	62185000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations	183461000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations	174023000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-485836000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations	183048000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	359404000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	441654000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	403547000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Marketable Securities PaymentsToAcquireMarketableSecurities	0	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Marketable Securities PaymentsToAcquireMarketableSecurities	0	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Marketable Securities PaymentsToAcquireMarketableSecurities	126408000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale And Maturity Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromSaleAndMaturityOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	0	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale And Maturity Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromSaleAndMaturityOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	0	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale And Maturity Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromSaleAndMaturityOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	49119000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Equity Method Investments PaymentsToAcquireEquityMethodInvestments	0	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Equity Method Investments PaymentsToAcquireEquityMethodInvestments	1888000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Equity Method Investments PaymentsToAcquireEquityMethodInvestments	5000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-359337000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-443542000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Lines Of Credit ProceedsFromLinesOfCredit	274976000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Lines Of Credit ProceedsFromLinesOfCredit	334654000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Proceeds From Lines Of Credit ProceedsFromLinesOfCredit	287416000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments Of Financing Costs PaymentsOfFinancingCosts	33450000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments Of Financing Costs PaymentsOfFinancingCosts	22168000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Payments Of Financing Costs PaymentsOfFinancingCosts	18716000	USD
CY2011	irdm	Cash Restricted For Debt Service Reserve CashRestrictedForDebtServiceReserve	27034000	USD
CY2012	irdm	Cash Restricted For Debt Service Reserve CashRestrictedForDebtServiceReserve	27079000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Cash Restricted For Debt Service Reserve CashRestrictedForDebtServiceReserve	26990000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations	192310000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations	387571000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations	234712000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	16434000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	118052000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-68076000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	119932000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	136366000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Interest Paid InterestPaid	4528000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Interest Paid InterestPaid	6971000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Interest Paid InterestPaid	11255000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	-6296000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	348000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	-2920000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Capital Expenditures Incurred But Not Yet Paid CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid	14409000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Capital Expenditures Incurred But Not Yet Paid CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid	3516000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Capital Expenditures Incurred But Not Yet Paid CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid	10690000	USD
CY2011	irdm	Interest Capitalized But Not Paid InterestCapitalizedButNotPaid	2979000	USD
CY2012	irdm	Interest Capitalized But Not Paid InterestCapitalizedButNotPaid	5359000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Interest Capitalized But Not Paid InterestCapitalizedButNotPaid	7989000	USD
CY2011	irdm	Capitalized Amortization Of Deferred Financing Costs CapitalizedAmortizationOfDeferredFinancingCosts	0	USD
CY2012	irdm	Capitalized Amortization Of Deferred Financing Costs CapitalizedAmortizationOfDeferredFinancingCosts	3896000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Capitalized Amortization Of Deferred Financing Costs CapitalizedAmortizationOfDeferredFinancingCosts	12475000	USD
CY2011	irdm	Capitalized Paid In Kind Interest CapitalizedPaidInKindInterest	7012000	USD
CY2012	irdm	Capitalized Paid In Kind Interest CapitalizedPaidInKindInterest	16059000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Capitalized Paid In Kind Interest CapitalizedPaidInKindInterest	25715000	USD
CY2011	irdm	Stock Based Compensation Capitalized StockBasedCompensationCapitalized	446000	USD
CY2012	irdm	Stock Based Compensation Capitalized StockBasedCompensationCapitalized	819000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Stock Based Compensation Capitalized StockBasedCompensationCapitalized	1034000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	654916000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	6341000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	8150000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	7749000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	22563000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	29549000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	47095000	USD
CY2011	irdm	Settlement Of Warrants For Common Stock SettlementOfWarrantsForCommonStock	1000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	5895000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	7332000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	6715000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	0	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	722000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	-525000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	0	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-826000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised	40000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised	43000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentAssets	-110000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentAssets	-364000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentAssets	4328000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	454000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	464000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised	25000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	7140000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	-561000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	-1901000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	-1577000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	11199000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	4633000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	-363000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	200000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	7684000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Income Taxes Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesReceivable	-6773000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Income Taxes Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesReceivable	-28000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Income Taxes Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesReceivable	-3617000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	-5603000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities And Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilitiesAndOtherOperatingLiabilities	-2417000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities And Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilitiesAndOtherOperatingLiabilities	-6400000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities And Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilitiesAndOtherOperatingLiabilities	9694000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value New Issues StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueNewIssues	96499000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Revenue IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredRevenue	7230000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Revenue IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredRevenue	7310000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Revenue IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredRevenue	5612000	USD
CY2011	irdm	Increase Decreasee In Accrued Satellite And Network Operation Expense Net Of Current Portion IncreaseDecreaseeInAccruedSatelliteAndNetworkOperationExpenseNetOfCurrentPortion	-1337000	USD
CY2012	irdm	Increase Decreasee In Accrued Satellite And Network Operation Expense Net Of Current Portion IncreaseDecreaseeInAccruedSatelliteAndNetworkOperationExpenseNetOfCurrentPortion	-1338000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Increase Decreasee In Accrued Satellite And Network Operation Expense Net Of Current Portion IncreaseDecreaseeInAccruedSatelliteAndNetworkOperationExpenseNetOfCurrentPortion	-1338000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentLiabilities	10722000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentLiabilities	263000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentLiabilities	-10411000	USD
CY2012	irdm	Stock Issued During Period Value Exchange Of Warrants StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueExchangeOfWarrants	-2073000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Repayments Of Notes Payable RepaymentsOfNotesPayable	22223000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Repayments Of Notes Payable RepaymentsOfNotesPayable	0	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Repayments Of Notes Payable RepaymentsOfNotesPayable	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Warrant Exercises ProceedsFromWarrantExercises	1000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Warrant Exercises ProceedsFromWarrantExercises	9114000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Proceeds From Warrant Exercises ProceedsFromWarrantExercises	3000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	40000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	43000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	25000	USD
CY2011	irdm	Payment Of Warrant Conversion Costs PaymentOfWarrantConversionCosts	0	USD
CY2012	irdm	Payment Of Warrant Conversion Costs PaymentOfWarrantConversionCosts	2073000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Payment Of Warrant Conversion Costs PaymentOfWarrantConversionCosts	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Convertible Preferred Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfConvertiblePreferredStock	0	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Convertible Preferred Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfConvertiblePreferredStock	96499000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Convertible Preferred Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfConvertiblePreferredStock	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends PaymentsOfDividends	0	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends PaymentsOfDividends	1419000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends PaymentsOfDividends	7000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	702018000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Interest Costs Capitalized InterestCostsCapitalized	12825000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Interest Costs Capitalized InterestCostsCapitalized	29305000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Interest Costs Capitalized InterestCostsCapitalized	52136000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	42000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	114000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	583000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Interest Costs Incurred InterestCostsIncurred	12867000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Interest Costs Incurred InterestCostsIncurred	29419000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Interest Costs Incurred InterestCostsIncurred	52719000	USD
CY2012	irdm	Share Based Compensation Expensed And Capitalized ShareBasedCompensationExpensedAndCapitalized	8150000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Share Based Compensation Expensed And Capitalized ShareBasedCompensationExpensedAndCapitalized	7749000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent	1100000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent	500000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Tangible Asset Impairment Charges TangibleAssetImpairmentCharges	3000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Tangible Asset Impairment Charges TangibleAssetImpairmentCharges	2000000	USD
CY2012	irdm	Depreciation Impact Change Of Accounting Estimate DepreciationImpactChangeOfAccountingEstimate	19600000	USD
CY2012	irdm	Impact Of Change In Accounting Estimate On Basic Earnings Per Share ImpactOfChangeInAccountingEstimateOnBasicEarningsPerShare	0.17
CY2012	irdm	Impact Of Change In Accounting Estimate On Diluted Earnings Per Share ImpactOfChangeInAccountingEstimateOnDilutedEarningsPerShare	0.16
CY2013	irdm	Maximum De Orbit Asset Retirement Obligation MaximumDeOrbitAssetRetirementObligation	17600000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	De Orbit Insurance Coverage DeOrbitInsuranceCoverage	2500000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation AssetRetirementObligation	200000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	600000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	500000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	500000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	13000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Use Of Estimates UseOfEstimates	<div style="CLEAR:both; FONT-FAMILY:Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 10pt;MARGIN: 0pt 0px; FONT: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif "> <div style="CLEAR:both; FONT-FAMILY:Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 10pt;MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <strong><i><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="FONT-FAMILY:times new roman,times,serif">Use of Estimates</font></font></i></strong></div> <div style="CLEAR:both; FONT-FAMILY:Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 10pt;MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></font><font style="FONT-FAMILY:times new roman,times,serif"> </font></div> <div style="CLEAR:both; FONT-FAMILY:Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 10pt;MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="FONT-FAMILY:times new roman,times,serif">The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.</font></font></div> </div> <table border="0" style="width:100%; table-layout:fixed;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td></td></tr></table>
CY2013	us-gaap	Concentration Risk Credit Risk ConcentrationRiskCreditRisk	<div style="CLEAR:both; FONT-FAMILY:Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 10pt;MARGIN: 0pt 0px; FONT: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif "> <div style="CLEAR:both; FONT-FAMILY:Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 10pt;MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <strong><i><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="FONT-FAMILY:times new roman,times,serif">Concentrations of Credit Risk</font></font></i></strong></div> <div style="CLEAR:both; FONT-FAMILY:Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 10pt;MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></font><font style="FONT-FAMILY:times new roman,times,serif"> </font></div> <div style="CLEAR:both; FONT-FAMILY:Times New Roman;FONT-SIZE: 10pt;MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="FONT-FAMILY:times new roman,times,serif">Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, and receivables. The majority of cash is swept nightly into a money market fund invested in U.S. treasuries, Agency Mortgage Backed Securities and/or U.S. Government guaranteed debt. While the Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents with financial institutions with high credit ratings, it often maintains those deposits in federally insured financial institutions in excess of federally insured (FDIC) limits. <font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">The Company’s marketable securities are <font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"> highly-rated</font> corporate and foreign fixed-income debt securities and commercial paper with an original maturity in excess of ninety days.</font> The Company performs credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and records reserves to provide for estimated credit losses. Accounts receivable are due from both domestic and international customers. </font></font></div> </div> <table border="0" style="width:100%; table-layout:fixed;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td></td></tr></table>
CY2013Q4	irdm	Long Term Minimum Debt Service Reserve Required To Maintain In Next Twelve Months LongTermMinimumDebtServiceReserveRequiredToMaintainInNextTwelveMonths	108000000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Long Term Minimum Debt Service Reserve Required To Maintain In Next Two Years LongTermMinimumDebtServiceReserveRequiredToMaintainInNextTwoYears	135000000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Long Term Minimum Debt Service Reserve Required To Maintain In Next Three Years LongTermMinimumDebtServiceReserveRequiredToMaintainInNextThreeYears	162000000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Long Term Minimum Debt Service Reserve Required To Maintain In Next Four Years LongTermMinimumDebtServiceReserveRequiredToMaintainInNextFourYears	189000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity	1800000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Interest Expense Debt InterestExpenseDebt	11900000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Interest Expense Debt InterestExpenseDebt	25500000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Interest Expense Debt InterestExpenseDebt	39600000	USD
CY2011	irdm	Interest Expense Paid Via Deemed Loan InterestExpensePaidViaDeemedLoan	8300000	USD
CY2012	irdm	Interest Expense Paid Via Deemed Loan InterestExpensePaidViaDeemedLoan	17800000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Interest Expense Paid Via Deemed Loan InterestExpensePaidViaDeemedLoan	27500000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Percentage Of Additional Amount Drawn To Cover Policy Premium PercentageOfAdditionalAmountDrawnToCoverPolicyPremium	0.0649	pure
CY2013	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Commitment Fee Percentage LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeePercentage	0.0080	pure
CY2013	irdm	Percentage Of Costs Under Development Contract PercentageOfCostsUnderDevelopmentContract	0.85	pure
CY2013	irdm	Line Of Credit Facility Interest Costs Capitalized LineOfCreditFacilityInterestCostsCapitalized	39600000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Line Of Credit Facility Interest Payable In Cash LineOfCreditFacilityInterestPayableInCash	12100000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Line Of Credit Facility Cash Interest Payments During Period LineOfCreditFacilityCashInterestPaymentsDuringPeriod	9700000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	93474000	USD
CY2013Q1	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	89189000	USD
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	97321000	USD
CY2013Q2	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	94684000	USD
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	100441000	USD
CY2013Q3	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	100569000	USD
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.23
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	92284000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	98207000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	14088000	USD
CY2013Q1	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	25338000	USD
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	28274000	USD
CY2013Q2	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	28848000	USD
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	31688000	USD
CY2013Q3	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	29451000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	31024000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	26257000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Line Of Credit Facility Accrued Interest At Period End Payable In Cash LineOfCreditFacilityAccruedInterestAtPeriodEndPayableInCash	2400000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	12418000	USD
CY2013Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	14934000	USD
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	17663000	USD
CY2013Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	15413000	USD
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	17839000	USD
CY2013Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	16585000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	16711000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	15585000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.17
CY2013Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.17
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.24
CY2013Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.18
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.24
CY2013Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.19
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.20
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.18
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.16
CY2013Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.17
CY2013Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.18
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.23
CY2013Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.19
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.19
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.18
CY2013	irdm	Line Of Credit Facility Interest Payable In Deemed Loans LineOfCreditFacilityInterestPayableInDeemedLoans	27500000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Line Of Credit Facility Interest Payments Via Deemed Loan During Period LineOfCreditFacilityInterestPaymentsViaDeemedLoanDuringPeriod	22000000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Line Of Credit Facility Accrued Interest At Period End Payable Via Deemed Loan LineOfCreditFacilityAccruedInterestAtPeriodEndPayableViaDeemedLoan	5500000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Minimum Required Cash Reserve Balance For Credit Facility MinimumRequiredCashReserveBalanceForCreditFacility	81000000	USD
CY2012Q3	irdm	Airtime Credits Allowed Under Lender Agreement AirtimeCreditsAllowedUnderLenderAgreement	10000000	USD
CY2012Q3	irdm	Additional Funds Raised Allowed Under Lender Agreement AdditionalFundsRaisedAllowedUnderLenderAgreement	15000000	USD
CY2012Q3	irdm	Aireon Investment Allowed Under Lender Agreement AireonInvestmentAllowedUnderLenderAgreement	12500000	USD
CY2012	irdm	Required Equity Raise Under Lender Agreement RequiredEquityRaiseUnderLenderAgreement	100000000	USD
CY2012	irdm	Warrants Exercised During Period WarrantsExercisedDuringPeriod	1300000	shares
CY2013Q4	irdm	Annual Cash Dividend Amount AnnualCashDividendAmount	7000000	USD
CY2012Q4	irdm	Annual Cash Dividend Amount AnnualCashDividendAmount	1400000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Satellite Operations And Maintenance Costs SatelliteOperationsAndMaintenanceCosts	30100000	USD
CY2012	irdm	Satellite Operations And Maintenance Costs SatelliteOperationsAndMaintenanceCosts	31900000	USD
CY2011	irdm	Satellite Operations And Maintenance Costs SatelliteOperationsAndMaintenanceCosts	34300000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	-12000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	-47000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Employer Discretionary Contribution Amount DefinedContributionPlanEmployerDiscretionaryContributionAmount	1200000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Employer Discretionary Contribution Amount DefinedContributionPlanEmployerDiscretionaryContributionAmount	1200000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Employer Discretionary Contribution Amount DefinedContributionPlanEmployerDiscretionaryContributionAmount	1100000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	111685000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	94719000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	65272000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	-1220000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	299000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	309000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	110465000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	95018000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	65581000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Defined Contribution Plan Employee Matching Contribution Annual Vesting Percentage DefinedContributionPlanEmployeeMatchingContributionAnnualVestingPercentage	1	pure
CY2013	irdm	Maximum Deferral Contribution Percentage MaximumDeferralContributionPercentage	0.05	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	82000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	500147000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	461520000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	7000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	96000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	816000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	296716000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	240186000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	723000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	849000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	567000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Property Plant And Equipment Net Excluding Construction In Process And Land PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNetExcludingConstructionInProcessAndLand	203431000	USD
CY2012Q4	irdm	Property Plant And Equipment Net Excluding Construction In Process And Land PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNetExcludingConstructionInProcessAndLand	221334000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	718000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	898000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	1465000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Land Land	8037000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Land Land	8037000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	39041000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	30014000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	21089000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	8240000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-610000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	1995000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-51000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	85000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-3000	USD
CY2012Q4	irdm	Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	0	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	41436000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	38668000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	33256000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	22955000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	9048000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	3837000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	2561000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Other Construction In Process OtherConstructionInProcess	22963000	USD
CY2012Q4	irdm	Other Construction In Process OtherConstructionInProcess	8414000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Income Tax Reconciliation State Tax Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationStateTaxValuationAllowance	3151000	USD
CY2012	irdm	Income Tax Reconciliation State Tax Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationStateTaxValuationAllowance	1943000	USD
CY2011	irdm	Income Tax Reconciliation State Tax Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationStateTaxValuationAllowance	0	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	62000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	68100000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	84600000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Income Tax Reconciliation Arizona Tax Law Change IncomeTaxReconciliationArizonaTaxLawChange	-3975000	USD
CY2012	irdm	Income Tax Reconciliation Arizona Tax Law Change IncomeTaxReconciliationArizonaTaxLawChange	-9524000	USD
CY2011	irdm	Income Tax Reconciliation Arizona Tax Law Change IncomeTaxReconciliationArizonaTaxLawChange	-3126000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Other IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther	1185000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Other IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther	414000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Other IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther	854000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	35277000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Contingencies IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxContingencies	-146000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Contingencies IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxContingencies	-45000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Contingencies IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxContingencies	704000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-849000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	223000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	784000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Reconciling Items IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherReconcilingItems	866000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Reconciling Items IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherReconcilingItems	283000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Reconciling Items IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherReconcilingItems	-186000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Deferred Income DeferredTaxAssetsDeferredIncome	4086000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Deferred Income DeferredTaxAssetsDeferredIncome	6212000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	133190000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	122948000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	21571000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	19551000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	192835000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	171605000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	6567000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	2200000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	186268000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	169405000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Deferred Expense Capitalized Research And Development Costs DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDeferredExpenseCapitalizedResearchAndDevelopmentCosts	318340000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Deferred Expense Capitalized Research And Development Costs DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDeferredExpenseCapitalizedResearchAndDevelopmentCosts	254312000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	3457000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	2824000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	380017000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	316066000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	193749000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	146661000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Deferred Tax Liabilities Fixed Assets And Intangibles DeferredTaxLiabilitiesFixedAssetsAndIntangibles	58220000	USD
CY2012Q4	irdm	Deferred Tax Liabilities Fixed Assets And Intangibles DeferredTaxLiabilitiesFixedAssetsAndIntangibles	58930000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Deferred Tax Assets Long Term Contracts DeferredTaxAssetsLongTermContracts	33988000	USD
CY2012Q4	irdm	Deferred Tax Assets Long Term Contracts DeferredTaxAssetsLongTermContracts	22894000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	1405000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	1450000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	54000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	38000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	7000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	7000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reductions Resulting From Lapse Of Applicable Statute Of Limitations UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	207000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reductions Resulting From Lapse Of Applicable Statute Of Limitations UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	90000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	1259000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill Gross IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwillGross	35225000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	0	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	35225000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Percentage Of Total Revenue From Prime Contracts PercentageOfTotalRevenueFromPrimeContracts	0.19	pure
CY2012	irdm	Percentage Of Total Revenue From Prime Contracts PercentageOfTotalRevenueFromPrimeContracts	0.2	pure
CY2011	irdm	Percentage Of Total Revenue From Prime Contracts PercentageOfTotalRevenueFromPrimeContracts	0.23	pure
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	76713000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Percentage Of Accounts Receivable From Prime Contracts PercentageOfAccountsReceivableFromPrimeContracts	0.34	pure
CY2012	irdm	Percentage Of Accounts Receivable From Prime Contracts PercentageOfAccountsReceivableFromPrimeContracts	0.25	pure
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	54486000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	22227000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Gross Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill	111938000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	13000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	35225000	USD
CY2013	dei	Trading Symbol TradingSymbol	IRDM
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Gross Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill	111938000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill Accumulated Amortization IntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwillAccumulatedAmortization	54486000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	76713000	USD
CY2014Q1	dei	Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding	76689814	shares
CY2012Q4	irdm	Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill Accumulated Amortization IntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwillAccumulatedAmortization	41436000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Next Twelve Months FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths	10036000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Two FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo	995000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Three FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree	995000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Four FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour	995000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Five FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive	995000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense After Year Five FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseAfterYearFive	8211000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Total Amortization Expense FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTotalAmortizationExpense	22227000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	13000000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Intellectual Property Useful Life IntellectualPropertyUsefulLife	P16Y6M
CY2013	us-gaap	Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets Weighted Average Useful Life AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLife	P7Y6M
CY2013	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	3200000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	3200000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	3000000	USD
CY2013	dei	Document Type DocumentType	10-K
CY2013	dei	Amendment Flag AmendmentFlag	false
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Volatility Rate Minimum ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRateMinimum	0.4	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Volatility Rate Maximum ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRateMaximum	0.45	pure
CY2013	dei	Document Period End Date DocumentPeriodEndDate	2013-12-31
CY2013	dei	Document Fiscal Year Focus DocumentFiscalYearFocus	2013
CY2013	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Risk Free Interest Rate Minimum ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRateMinimum	0.0058	pure
CY2013	irdm	Minimum Cash Balance Under Line Of Credit MinimumCashBalanceUnderLineOfCredit	25000000	USD
CY2013	dei	Document Fiscal Period Focus DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus	FY
CY2013	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	Iridium Communications Inc.
CY2013	dei	Entity Central Index Key EntityCentralIndexKey	0001418819
CY2013	dei	Current Fiscal Year End Date CurrentFiscalYearEndDate	--12-31
CY2013	dei	Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer	No
CY2013	dei	Entity Voluntary Filers EntityVoluntaryFilers	No
CY2013	dei	Entity Current Reporting Status EntityCurrentReportingStatus	Yes
CY2013	dei	Entity Filer Category EntityFilerCategory	Accelerated Filer
CY2013Q2	dei	Entity Public Float EntityPublicFloat	494300000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets In Process Research And Development DeferredTaxAssetsInProcessResearchAndDevelopment	3200000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Credit Carryforwards Foreign DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwardsForeign	1700000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Credit Carryforwards Alternative Minimum Tax DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwardsAlternativeMinimumTax	1300000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Foreign Tax Credit Carry Forward Valuation Allowance ForeignTaxCreditCarryForwardValuationAllowance	1000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Liability For Uncertain Tax Positions Noncurrent LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsNoncurrent	1300000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Liability For Uncertain Tax Positions Noncurrent LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsNoncurrent	1400000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Covenant Terms LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTerms	a debt-to-equity ratio, which is calculated as the ratio of total net debt to the aggregate of total net debt and total stockholders equity, of no more than 0.7 to 1, measured each June 30 and December 31;specified maximum levels of annual capital expenditures (excluding expenditures on the construction of Iridium NEXT satellites) through the year ending December 31, 2024;specified minimum consolidated operational earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or operational EBITDA, levels for the 12-month periods ending each December 31 and June 30 through June 30, 2017;specified minimum cash flow requirements from customers who have hosted payloads on the Companys satellites during the 12-month periods ending each December 31 and June 30, beginning December 31, 2014 and ending on June 30, 2017;a debt service coverage ratio, measured during the repayment period, of not less than 1 to 1.5; andspecified maximum leverage levels during the repayment period that decline from a ratio of 4.75 to 1 for thetwelve months ending June 30, 2017 to a ratio of 2.5 to 1 for thetwelve months ending June 30, 2025.
CY2013Q4	irdm	Available Cash Balance As Defined Under Line Of Credit AvailableCashBalanceAsDefinedUnderLineOfCredit	204000000	USD
CY2012Q4	irdm	Available Cash Balance As Defined Under Line Of Credit AvailableCashBalanceAsDefinedUnderLineOfCredit	254400000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Volatility Rate Minimum ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRateMinimum	0.41	pure
CY2013	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Volatility Rate Maximum ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRateMaximum	0.42	pure
CY2012	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Volatility Rate Minimum ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRateMinimum	0.42	pure
CY2012	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Volatility Rate Maximum ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRateMaximum	0.45	pure
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	5431000	shares
CY2013	irdm	Maximum Employee Contribution Percentage MaximumEmployeeContributionPercentage	1	pure
CY2013	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Dividend Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate	0	pure
CY2012	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Dividend Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate	0	pure
CY2013	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Expirations In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriod	340000	shares
CY2013	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	4000	shares
CY2013	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod	243000	shares
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	6183000	shares
CY2013	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Risk Free Interest Rate Maximum ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRateMaximum	0.0193	pure
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber	3918000	shares
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingNumber	6142000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	8.30
CY2013	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	6.31
CY2012	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Risk Free Interest Rate Minimum ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRateMinimum	0.0078	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Dividend Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate	0	pure
CY2013	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Expirations In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	8.62
CY2013	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	6.54
CY2012	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Risk Free Interest Rate Maximum ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRateMaximum	0.0117	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Risk Free Interest Rate Minimum ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRateMinimum	0.0116	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Risk Free Interest Rate Maximum ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRateMaximum	0.0265	pure
CY2013	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Gross ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross	1339000	shares
CY2013	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	7.31
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	7.89
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice	8.36
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	7.90
CY2013	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm2	P7Y18D
CY2013	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	P6Y2M26D
CY2013	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	P7Y14D
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue	140000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Intrinsic Value1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1	0	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Exercisable Aggregate Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestExercisableAggregateIntrinsicValue	136000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	26000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Property Plant And Equipment ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment	0	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Property Plant And Equipment ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Property Plant And Equipment ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment	67000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	6000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	6000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	5600000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Inventory Write Down InventoryWriteDown	1479000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Inventory Write Down InventoryWriteDown	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Inventory Write Down InventoryWriteDown	0	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Amortization Of Debt Discount Premium AmortizationOfDebtDiscountPremium	546000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Amortization Of Debt Discount Premium AmortizationOfDebtDiscountPremium	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Amortization Of Debt Discount Premium AmortizationOfDebtDiscountPremium	0	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Marketable Securities Realized Gain Loss Excluding Other Than Temporary Impairments MarketableSecuritiesRealizedGainLossExcludingOtherThanTemporaryImpairments	-82000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Marketable Securities Realized Gain Loss Excluding Other Than Temporary Impairments MarketableSecuritiesRealizedGainLossExcludingOtherThanTemporaryImpairments	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Marketable Securities Realized Gain Loss Excluding Other Than Temporary Impairments MarketableSecuritiesRealizedGainLossExcludingOtherThanTemporaryImpairments	0	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	2.60
CY2012	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	3.31
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	3.69
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized	5700000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized Period For Recognition1 EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1	P2Y4M24D
CY2013	irdm	Contribution Of Fixed Assets To Equity Method Investment ContributionOfFixedAssetsToEquityMethodInvestment	0	USD
CY2012	irdm	Contribution Of Fixed Assets To Equity Method Investment ContributionOfFixedAssetsToEquityMethodInvestment	1353000	USD
CY2011	irdm	Contribution Of Fixed Assets To Equity Method Investment ContributionOfFixedAssetsToEquityMethodInvestment	0	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Vested In Period Fair Value1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedInPeriodFairValue1	6300000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Vested In Period Fair Value1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedInPeriodFairValue1	6700000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Vested In Period Fair Value1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedInPeriodFairValue1	4600000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Restricted Stock Expense RestrictedStockExpense	1700000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Restricted Stock Expense RestrictedStockExpense	2100000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Restricted Stock Expense RestrictedStockExpense	700000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Us Government Contract Future Minimum Payments Receivable Year One UsGovernmentContractFutureMinimumPaymentsReceivableYearOne	64000000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Us Government Contract Future Minimum Payments Receivable Year Two UsGovernmentContractFutureMinimumPaymentsReceivableYearTwo	72000000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Us Government Contract Future Minimum Payments Receivable Year Three UsGovernmentContractFutureMinimumPaymentsReceivableYearThree	88000000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Us Government Contract Future Minimum Payments Receivable Year Four UsGovernmentContractFutureMinimumPaymentsReceivableYearFour	88000000	USD
CY2013Q4	irdm	Us Government Contract Future Minimum Payments Receivable Year Five UsGovernmentContractFutureMinimumPaymentsReceivableYearFive	88000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Asset Impairment Charges AssetImpairmentCharges	1500000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity	1800000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Description StandardProductWarrantyDescription	The Company provides the first end-user purchaser of its subscriber equipment a warranty for one to five years from the date of purchase by such first end-user, depending on the product.
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Dividends Payable Current DividendsPayableCurrent	292000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Dividends Payable Current DividendsPayableCurrent	273000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Dividends Payable Current DividendsPayableCurrent	0	USD
CY2013	irdm	Deferred Income Tax Provision DeferredIncomeTaxProvision	47230000	USD
CY2012	irdm	Deferred Income Tax Provision DeferredIncomeTaxProvision	29489000	USD
CY2011	irdm	Deferred Income Tax Provision DeferredIncomeTaxProvision	23081000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	0	USD
CY2012	irdm	Stock Issued Upon Exercise Of Warrants StockIssuedUponExerciseOfWarrants	9114000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Stock Issued Upon Exercise Of Warrants StockIssuedUponExerciseOfWarrants	4000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Entity Interactive Data Current Reporting Status EntityInteractiveDataCurrentReportingStatus	Yes
CY2013Q4	irdm	Available Cure Balance As Defined Under Line Of Credit AvailableCureBalanceAsDefinedUnderLineOfCredit	700000	USD
CY2013	irdm	Cash Flow Projections Discount Rate CashFlowProjectionsDiscountRate	0.10	pure

Files In Submission

Name	View Source	Status
0001144204-14-013118-index-headers.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001144204-14-013118-index.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001144204-14-013118.txt	Edgar Link	pending
0001144204-14-013118-xbrl.zip	Edgar Link	pending
emsscontract.jpg	Edgar Link	pending
FilingSummary.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
Financial_Report.xls	Edgar Link	pending
Financial_Report.xlsx	Edgar Link	pending
ft0001img-1.jpg	Edgar Link	pending
irdm-20131231.xml	Edgar Link	completed
irdm-20131231.xsd	Edgar Link	pending
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irdm-20131231_def.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
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irdm-20131231_pre.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
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$IRDM
Iridium Communications Inc. Stock $irdm

2013 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000114420414013118 Filed on March 04, 2014

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$IRDM Iridium Communications Inc. Stock $irdm

2013 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000114420414013118 Filed on March 04, 2014

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$IRDM
Iridium Communications Inc. Stock $irdm