Acquisition - The Preliminary Estimated Purchase Price Allocation of the Acquired Assets and Assumed Liabilities Based on the Estimated Fair Values (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Jan. 02, 2015

Apr. 04, 2014

Jun. 06, 2014

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

Goodwill

$ 117,276us-gaap_Goodwill

$ 83,627us-gaap_Goodwill

NetNearU [Member]

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

Current assets

8,482us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= vsat_NetNearUMember

Property and equipment

1,087us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= vsat_NetNearUMember

Identifiable intangible assets

24,310us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= vsat_NetNearUMember

Goodwill

34,330us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= vsat_NetNearUMember

Total assets acquired

68,209us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= vsat_NetNearUMember

Current liabilities

(5,305)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= vsat_NetNearUMember

Other long-term liabilities

(2,981)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNoncurrentLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= vsat_NetNearUMember

Total liabilities assumed

(8,286)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= vsat_NetNearUMember

Total purchase price

$ 59,923us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= vsat_NetNearUMember

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- Definition

Amount of assets acquired at the acquisition date.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of assets that are expected to be realized or consumed within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, acquired at the acquisition date.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of liabilities due within one year or within the normal operating cycle, if longer, assumed at the acquisition date.

+ References

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- Definition

The amount of identifiable intangible assets recognized as of the acquisition date.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=39739317&loc=d3e4845-128472

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 55

-Paragraph 37

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744172&loc=d3e2207-128464

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- Definition

Amount of liabilities assumed at the acquisition date.

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- Definition

Amount of liabilities due after one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, assumed at the acquisition date.

+ References

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- Definition

The amount of property, plant, and equipment recognized as of the acquisition date.

+ References

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- Definition

Amount recognized for assets, including goodwill, in excess of (less than) the aggregate liabilities assumed.

+ References

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- Definition

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

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