PENDING SALE OF U.S. RETAIL WIRELESS BUSINESS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013 Alltel Sale AT&T	Jan. 21, 2013 Alltel Sale AT&T
Pending Sale Of U.S. Retail Wireless Business
Consideration for sale of operations in all-cash transaction				$ 780,000,000
Consolidated revenues	172,868,000	183,087,000	108,000,000
Percentage of consolidated revenues			62.00%
Operating income	$ 17,769,000	$ 18,130,000	$ 4,200,000
Percentage of consolidated operating income			24.00%

Represents the percentage of operating income (loss) to consolidated operating income (loss) of the entity.

No definition available.

Name:	atni_OperatingIncomeLossPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	atni_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the percentage of revenue to consolidated revenues of the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	atni_SalesRevenuePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	atni_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate revenue recognized during the period (derived from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an entity's earning process). For financial services companies, also includes investment and interest income, and sales and trading gains.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Revenues
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The value of all consideration given or received by the Entity in the significant acquisition or disposal.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsAcquisitionCostsOrSaleProceeds
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant