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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OiXWx84pcX4mA1FFJwm+ZV/nhbm+9IjYd1970K2hs8AvuglRxuhZDMMvH5aPzDJ6
 MP98iR0ZadG+BZDkw7IOzQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-03-016584.txt : 20030804
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-03-016584.hdr.sgml : 20030804
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030804190530
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-03-016584
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030731
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030804

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCHAEFFER DAVE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001166976

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31227
		FILM NUMBER:		03821886

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11017 RIVERWOOD DR
		CITY:			POTOMAC
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20854

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11017 RIVERWOOD DR
		CITY:			POTOMAC
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20854

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COGENT COMMUNICATIONS GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001158324
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				522337274

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1015 31ST STREET
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20007
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2022954200
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-07-31</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001158324</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COGENT COMMUNICATIONS GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>COI</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001166976</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHAEFFER DAVE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>11017 RIVERWOOD DR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>POTOMAC</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20854</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>1</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
      <officerTitle>CEO &amp; President</officerTitle>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
    <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-07-31</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>C</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>1</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>160424</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>0</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>A</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>1520424</value>
          <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <natureOfOwnership>
          <value>See Footnote</value>
          <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeTransaction>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
    <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Series C Participating Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>0</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-07-31</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>C</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>1</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>1604235</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>0</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>D</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>2001-10-16</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>1988-08-08</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>160242</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>0</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeTransaction>
    <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Series G Participating Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>0</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-07-31</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>200</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>1000</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>A</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>2003-07-31</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>1988-08-08</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>3923409</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>4402109</value>
          <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <natureOfOwnership>
          <value>See Footnote</value>
          <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeTransaction>
  </derivativeTable>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">Includes 135,000 shares of common stock held by the Schaeffer Descendant???s Trust.  Mr. Schaeffer disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F2">Includes options to purchase 478,700 shares of common stock as disclosed in the Form 3 filed by Mr. Schaeffer on March 13, 2002 and the Amended Form 3 filed by Mr. Schaeffer on April 24, 2002.</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>/s/ David Schaeffer</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-08-04</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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