<?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>0001182939</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCCOY JOHN B</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>22380.943</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: 1,316 by profit sharing plan; 30,268 by trust.</footnote>
</footnotes>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>JOHN B. MCCOY</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
0001182939
MCCOY JOHN B
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2003-06-27
4
A
0
78.616
25.440
A
22380.943
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: 1,316 by profit sharing plan; 30,268 by trust.
JOHN B. MCCOY
2003-06-30
By: Joy Rick, Attorney-in-fact
2003-06-30