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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details 8) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Accounting for grants      
Amount spent in capital expenditures $ 58,300,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment $ 69,316,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment $ 42,154,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
Minimum      
Accounting for grants      
Long-term power purchase agreements term 10 years    
Term of depreciation of grant 5 years    
Maximum      
Accounting for grants      
Long-term power purchase agreements term 25 years    
Term of depreciation of grant 20 years    
Stimulus programs      
Accounting for grants      
Amount spent in capital expenditures 92,500,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ atni_GrantsByProgramTypeAxis
= atni_StimulusProgramMember		    
Amount that has been funded or will be funded 67,000,000us-gaap_GrantsReceivable
/ atni_GrantsByProgramTypeAxis
= atni_StimulusProgramMember		    
Universal Service Fund programs      
Accounting for grants      
Amount received 3,900,000atni_ProceedsFromGrants
/ atni_GrantsByProgramTypeAxis
= atni_UniversalServiceFundProgramMember		 2,400,000atni_ProceedsFromGrants
/ atni_GrantsByProgramTypeAxis
= atni_UniversalServiceFundProgramMember		  
Amount available to support U.S wireless business relating to high-cost areas $ 1,300,000atni_AmountAvailableToSupportHighCostAreasFromProceedsFromGrants
/ atni_GrantsByProgramTypeAxis
= atni_UniversalServiceFundProgramMember		 $ 1,600,000atni_AmountAvailableToSupportHighCostAreasFromProceedsFromGrants
/ atni_GrantsByProgramTypeAxis
= atni_UniversalServiceFundProgramMember