<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000732717</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SBC COMMUNICATIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SBC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183306</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>UPTON PATRICIA P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P. O. BOX 1500</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HEBER SPRINGS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>72543-1500</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></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>2003-12-31</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>311.000</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>26.07</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>11345.529</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>15605.086</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>By benefit plan</value>
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>715.000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>By Corporation</value>
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
  </derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">Acquisition of shares as payment for retainer fees pursuant to the SBC Non-Employee Director Stock and Deferral Plan.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">Includes 94.51shares acquired on 11/3/03 at a price of $23.918 through reinvested dividends under dividend reinvestment plan.
          </footnote>
</footnotes>
<remarks></remarks>    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>By: Joy Rick, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-12-31
0
0000732717
SBC COMMUNICATIONS INC
SBC
0001183306
UPTON PATRICIA P
P. O. BOX 1500
HEBER SPRINGS
AR
72543-1500
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2003-12-31
4
A
0
311.000
26.07
A
11345.529
D
Common Stock
15605.086
I
By benefit plan
Common Stock
715.000
I
By Corporation
Acquisition of shares as payment for retainer fees pursuant to the SBC Non-Employee Director Stock and Deferral Plan.
Includes 94.51shares acquired on 11/3/03 at a price of $23.918 through reinvested dividends under dividend reinvestment plan.
By: Joy Rick, Attorney-in-fact
2004-01-05