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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 WY5CYfWRrtz4Z+ZdlctBcA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001247673-04-000001.txt : 20040127
<SEC-HEADER>0001247673-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040127
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040127171522
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001247673-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040127
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040127

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WHEATLEY HENRY U
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001247673

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12593
		FILM NUMBER:		04547130

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ATLANTIC TELENETWORK, INC.
		STREET 2:		19 ESTATE THOMAS HAVENSITE
		CITY:			ST, THOMAS, VIRGIN ISLANDS
		STATE:			VI
		ZIP:			00801

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ATLANTIC TELE NETWORK INC /DE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000879585
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIO TELEPHONE) [4813]
		IRS NUMBER:				470728886
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		19 ESTATE THOMAS
		STREET 2:		HAVEN SIGHT
		CITY:			ST. THOMAS
		STATE:			VI
		ZIP:			00802
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3407778000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 12030
		CITY:			ST. THOMAS
		STATE:			VI
		ZIP:			00801
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000879585</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ATLANTIC TELE NETWORK INC /DE</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ank</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001247673</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WHEATLEY HENRY U</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ATLANTIC TELE NETWORK, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>9719 ESTATE THOMAS HAVENSITE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST. THOMAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>00802</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>VIRGIN ISLANDS, U.S.</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7785</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7785</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>As trustee of revocable trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7785</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-01-27</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2004-01-27</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc.</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7785</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3909</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Phantom Stock converts on a 1 for 1 basis to Common Stock</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The phantom stock units become payable in common stock of the issuer upon the earlier of (a) various dates beginning January 27, 2004, (b) the date of termination of the reporting person's service as director of the issuer, or (c) the date of the reporting person's death.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Henry U. Wheatley</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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