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

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-08-29</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000732717</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SBC COMMUNICATIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SBC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183865</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DALEY WILLIAM M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>175 E HOUSTON STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>--</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN ANTONIO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>78205-2233</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>37283.000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>926.463</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>by 401(k)</value>
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-08-29</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>820.098</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>22.490</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>10548.498</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>By benefit plans</value>
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
  </derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">Automatic purchase of shares through SBC Stock Savings Plan in the form of deferred stock units settled only in stock on a 1-for-
1 basis as provided for in the Plan.  </footnote>
</footnotes>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>By: Starlene R. Meyerkord, Attorney-in-fact for William M. D</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-09-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-08-29
0
0000732717
SBC COMMUNICATIONS INC
SBC
0001183865
DALEY WILLIAM M
175 E HOUSTON STREET
--
SAN ANTONIO
TX
78205-2233
0
1
0
0
President
Common Stock
37283.000
D
Common Stock
926.463
I
by 401(k)
Common Stock
2003-08-29
4
A
0
820.098
22.490
A
10548.498
I
By benefit plans
Automatic purchase of shares through SBC Stock Savings Plan in the form of deferred stock units settled only in stock on a 1-for-
1 basis as provided for in the Plan.
By: Starlene R. Meyerkord, Attorney-in-fact for William M. D
2003-09-02