<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000732717</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SBC COMMUNICATIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SBC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

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            <rptOwnerCik>0001080910</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HELU CARLOS SLIM</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PALMAS 736</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>COL. LOMAS DE CHAPULTEPEC</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>11000 MEXICO, D.F.</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
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            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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            </postTransactionAmounts>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
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                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>33853.000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>25.430</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6229182.000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By LLC</value>
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                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <value>25.480</value>
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                    <value>A</value>
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                    <value>6500000.000</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Mr. Slim disclaims any beneficial interest in the common stock except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Paula M. Anderson, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2004-04-27
0
0000732717
SBC COMMUNICATIONS INC
SBC
0001080910
HELU CARLOS SLIM
PALMAS 736
COL. LOMAS DE CHAPULTEPEC
11000 MEXICO, D.F.
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2002.000
D
Common Stock
13874.834
I
By benefit plan
Common Stock
2004-04-27
4
P
0
33852.000
25.610
A
6033852.000
I
By LLC
Common Stock
2004-04-27
4
P
0
59919.000
25.270
A
6093771.000
I
By LLC
Common Stock
2004-04-27
4
P
0
33852.000
25.420
A
6127623.000
I
By LLC
Common Stock
2004-04-27
4
P
0
67706.000
25.540
A
6195329.000
I
By LLC
Common Stock
2004-04-27
4
P
0
33853.000
25.430
A
6229182.000
I
By LLC
Common Stock
2004-04-27
4
P
0
33852.000
25.310
A
6263034.000
I
By LLC
Common Stock
2004-04-27
4
P
0
33852.000
25.370
A
6296886.000
I
By LLC
Common Stock
2004-04-27
4
P
0
33852.000
25.440
A
6330738.000
I
By LLC
Common Stock
2004-04-27
4
P
0
67705.000
25.500
A
6398443.000
I
By LLC
Common Stock
2004-04-27
4
P
0
33852.000
25.470
A
6432295.000
I
By LLC
Common Stock
2004-04-27
4
P
0
67705.000
25.480
A
6500000.000
I
By LLC
Mr. Slim disclaims any beneficial interest in the common stock except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.
By: Paula M. Anderson, Attorney-in-fact
2004-04-28