<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-06-30</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000732717</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SBC COMMUNICATIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SBC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001182672</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JENNINGS KAREN E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. Exec. VP-HR and Comm.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
   <nonDerivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-06-30</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>652.642</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionValue>
              <value>25.550</value>
          </transactionValue>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>53211.817</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>by benefit plans</value>
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeSecurity>
<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>
   <footnote id="F2">Also beneficially holds SBC shares as follows: 34,705 held directly; 1,363.866 by 401(k); 242.669 by PAYSOP; and 490.688 by spous
e.</footnote>
</footnotes>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>KAREN E. JENNINGS</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-07-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>By: Joy Rick, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-07-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0101
4
2003-06-30
0
0000732717
SBC COMMUNICATIONS INC
SBC
0001182672
JENNINGS KAREN E
0
1
0
0
Sr. Exec. VP-HR and Comm.
Common Stock
2003-06-30
4
A
0
652.642
25.550
A
53211.817
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.
Also beneficially holds SBC shares as follows: 34,705 held directly; 1,363.866 by 401(k); 242.669 by PAYSOP; and 490.688 by spous
e.
KAREN E. JENNINGS
2003-07-01
By: Joy Rick, Attorney-in-fact
2003-07-01