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, 2014	$ 677,222	$ 166	$ (15,549)	$ 145,563	$ 549,963	$ (2,921)	$ 60,960	$ 738,182
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of 93,864 , 100,005 and 95,095 restricted shares of common stock for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively	1	1						1
Issuance of 87,378 ,43,053 and 35,081 shares of common stock upon exercise of stock options for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively	2,809	1		2,808				2,809
Purchase of 37,567, 70,686, and 234,746 shares of common stock	(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 a 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 $717, $677 and $679 for the years ended 2015, 2016 and 2017, 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 93,864 , 100,005 and 95,095 restricted shares of common stock for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively	(1)			(1)				(1)
Issuance of 87,378 ,43,053 and 35,081 shares of common stock upon exercise of stock options for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively	1,409	1		1,408				1,409
Purchase of 37,567, 70,686, and 234,746 shares of common stock	(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 a 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 $717, $677 and $679 for the years ended 2015, 2016 and 2017, 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
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of 93,864 , 100,005 and 95,095 restricted shares of common stock for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively	1	1						1
Issuance of 87,378 ,43,053 and 35,081 shares of common stock upon exercise of stock options for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively	1,156			1,156				1,156
Purchase of 37,567, 70,686, and 234,746 shares of common stock	(12,983)		(12,983)					(12,983)
Stock-based compensation	6,970			6,970				6,970
Dividends declared on common stock	(16,465)				(16,465)		(7,318)	(23,783)
Investments made by minority shareholders							123	123
Deconsolidation of a subsidiary							529	529
Repurchase of non-controlling interests	(670)			(670)			(1,356)	(2,026)
Cumulative-effect adjustment due to adoption of new accounting pronouncement	155			341	(186)			155
Comprehensive income:
Net income	31,490				31,490		17,404	48,894
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax expense (benefit) of $717, $677 and $679 for the years ended 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively	2,018					2,018		2,018
Comprehensive income	33,508						17,404	50,912
Equity, end of period at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 688,727	$ 170	$ (36,110)	$ 167,973	$ 552,948	$ 3,746	$ 141,496	$ 830,223