CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
REVENUE:
Total revenue	$ 741,366	$ 759,196	$ 619,145
OPERATING EXPENSES (excluding depreciation and amortization unless otherwise indicated):
Termination and access fees	155,797	204,604	160,554
Engineering and operations	88,756	85,236	71,032
Sales and marketing	121,381	135,944	94,661
Equipment expense	92,517	74,105	75,335
General and administrative	85,354	99,097	88,783
Acquisition-related charges	868	772	13,760
Depreciation and amortization	105,487	104,159	76,736
Impairment of intangibles	3,350	2,425
Gain on disposition of long-lived assets	(11,605)	(2,397)
Total operating expenses	641,905	703,945	580,861
Income from operations	99,461	55,251	38,284
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest expense	(14,124)	(17,370)	(9,956)
Interest income	406	427	551
Gain on bargain purchase, net of deferred taxes of $18,016			27,024
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate	3,535	3,029	743
Other income, net	2,346	1,129	543
Other income (expense), net	(7,837)	(12,785)	18,905
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	91,624	42,466	57,189
Income taxes	38,457	20,569	19,607
NET INCOME	53,167	21,897	37,582
Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests, net of tax of $1.9 million, $2.4 million, and $2.5 million, respectively	(4,235)	(103)	872
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC. STOCKHOLDERS	48,932	21,794	38,454
NET INCOME PER WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC. STOCKHOLDERS:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 3.15	$ 1.42	$ 2.51
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 3.13	$ 1.41	$ 2.48
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING:
Basic (in shares)	15,531	15,396	15,323
Diluted (in shares)	15,619	15,495	15,483
DIVIDENDS PER SHARE APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCK (in dollars per share)	$ 0.96	$ 0.90	$ 0.84
U.S. Wireless, Retail
REVENUE:
Total revenue	337,784	370,218	293,126
U.S. Wireless, Wholesale
REVENUE:
Total revenue	201,938	201,993	159,807
International wireless
REVENUE:
Total revenue	81,619	72,230	50,615
Wireline
REVENUE:
Total revenue	84,828	84,957	84,488
Equipment and Other
REVENUE:
Total revenue	$ 35,197	$ 29,798	$ 31,109