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

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-06-27</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000732717</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SBC COMMUNICATIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SBC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001180475</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>REMBE TONI</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
   <nonDerivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-06-27</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>78.616</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionValue>
              <value>25.440</value>
          </transactionValue>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>17829.450</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>By benefit plan</value>
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">Acquisition of deferred stock units pursuant to the SBC Non-Employee Director Stock and Deferral Plan; each unit will be converte
d into one share of SBC common stock after the reporting person ceases to be a Director.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">Also beneficially holds SBC shares as follows: 13,572 held directly; 296 by spouse's corporation; and 2,145 by spouse's trust (reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose). </footnote>
</footnotes>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>TONI  REMBE</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-06-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>By: Joy Rick, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-06-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0101
4
2003-06-27
0
0000732717
SBC COMMUNICATIONS INC
SBC
0001180475
REMBE TONI
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2003-06-27
4
A
0
78.616
25.440
A
17829.450
I
By benefit plan
Acquisition of deferred stock units pursuant to the SBC Non-Employee Director Stock and Deferral Plan; each unit will be converte
d into one share of SBC common stock after the reporting person ceases to be a Director.
Also beneficially holds SBC shares as follows: 13,572 held directly; 296 by spouse's corporation; and 2,145 by spouse's trust (reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose).
TONI  REMBE
2003-06-30
By: Joy Rick, Attorney-in-fact
2003-06-30