<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-07-25</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183427</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EBY MARTIN K JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 1679</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WICHITA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KS</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>67201</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-07-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>84.962</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.54</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25680.53</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By benefit plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Acquisition of deferred stock units pursuant to the SBC Non-Employee Director Stock and Deferral Plan; each unit will be converted 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:  26,856 held directly.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Joy Rick, Attorney-in-fact for Martin K. Eby, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-07-25
0
0000732717
SBC COMMUNICATIONS INC
SBC
0001183427
EBY MARTIN K JR
P.O. BOX 1679
WICHITA
KS
67201
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2003-07-25
4
A
0
84.962
23.54
A
25680.53
I
By benefit plan
Acquisition of deferred stock units pursuant to the SBC Non-Employee Director Stock and Deferral Plan; each unit will be converted into one share of SBC common stock after the reporting person ceases to be a Director.
Also beneficially holds SBC shares as follows:  26,856 held directly.
Joy Rick, Attorney-in-fact for Martin K. Eby, Jr.
2003-07-28