CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total ATNI Stockholders' Equity	Common Stock	Treasury Stock, Common, at cost	Additional Paid In Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)	Non-Controlling Interests	Total
Equity, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 643,330	$ 164	$ (13,389)	$ 139,106	$ 519,651	$ (2,202)	$ 56,525	$ 699,855
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of 43,034, 87,378 and 43,053 shares of common stock upon exercise of stock options for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively	1,623	2		1,621				1,623
Purchase of treasury stock of 34,293, 37,567, and 70,686 shares for the years ended December 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively	(2,160)		(2,160)					(2,160)
Stock-based compensation	4,324			4,324				4,324
Dividends declared on common stock	(17,840)				(17,840)		(16,331)	(34,171)
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	513			512				513
Investments made by minority shareholders							9,796	9,796
Comprehensive income:
Net income	48,152				48,152		10,970	59,122
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax expense (benefit) of $641, $717 and $677 for the years ended 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively	(720)					(719)		(720)
Comprehensive income	47,432						10,970	58,402
Equity, end of period at Dec. 31, 2014	677,222	166	(15,549)	145,563	549,963	(2,921)	60,960	738,182
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of 109,318, 93,864 and 100,005 restricted shares of common stock for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively	1	1						1
Issuance of 43,034, 87,378 and 43,053 shares of common stock upon exercise of stock options for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively	2,809	1		2,808				2,809
Purchase of treasury stock of 34,293, 37,567, and 70,686 shares for the years ended December 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively	(2,705)		(2,705)					(2,705)
Stock-based compensation	4,974			4,974				4,974
Dividends declared on common stock	(19,582)				(19,582)		(16,715)	(36,297)
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	1,423			1,423				1,423
Investments made by minority shareholders							951	951
Deconsolidation of subsidiary							20,013	20,013
Comprehensive income:
Net income	16,940				16,940		16,216	33,156
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax expense (benefit) of $641, $717 and $677 for the years ended 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively	(783)					(783)		(783)
Comprehensive income	16,157						16,216	32,373
Equity, end of period at Dec. 31, 2015	680,299	168	(18,254)	154,768	547,321	(3,704)	81,425	761,724
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of 109,318, 93,864 and 100,005 restricted shares of common stock for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively	(1)			(1)				(1)
Issuance of 43,034, 87,378 and 43,053 shares of common stock upon exercise of stock options for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively	1,409	1		1,408				1,409
Purchase of treasury stock of 34,293, 37,567, and 70,686 shares for the years ended December 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively	(4,873)		(4,873)					(4,873)
Stock-based compensation	6,440			6,440				6,440
Dividends declared on common stock	(21,313)				(21,313)		(8,848)	(30,161)
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	592			592				592
Non-controlling interest in equity acquired	(4,106)			(4,106)			29,998	25,892
Investments made by minority shareholders							22,409	22,409
Deconsolidation of subsidiary							(310)	(310)
Repurchase of non-controlling interests	1,075			1,075			(4,673)	(3,598)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	12,101				12,101		12,113	24,214
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax expense (benefit) of $641, $717 and $677 for the years ended 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively	5,432					5,432		5,432
Comprehensive income	17,533						12,113	29,646
Equity, end of period at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 677,055	$ 169	$ (23,127)	$ 160,176	$ 538,109	$ 1,728	$ 132,114	$ 809,169