-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UEdnorp9b52LPEArGCGmHH7xei3+kGaJIBrn3pHfNm1Cn2sFcJbQmbAPK1+bM077
 gMWeC/7Th26ctHWx0emDEw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000317771-03-000057.txt : 20030730
<SEC-HEADER>0000317771-03-000057.hdr.sgml : 20030730
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030730100458
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000317771-03-000057
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030728
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030730

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TELLABS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000317771
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH APPARATUS [3661]
		IRS NUMBER:				363831568
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE TELLABS CENTER
		STREET 2:		1415 WEST DIEHL ROAD
		CITY:			NAPERVILLE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60563
		BUSINESS PHONE:		630-378-8800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE TELLABS CENTER
		STREET 2:		1415 WEST DIEHL ROAD
		CITY:			NAPERVILLE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60563

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BOSSE NADALIE S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001257376
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH APPARATUS [3661]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-09692
		FILM NUMBER:		03810210

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE TELLABS CENTER
		STREET 2:		1415 WEST DIEHL ROAD
		CITY:			NAPERVILLE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60563
		BUSINESS PHONE:		630-378-8800
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-28</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000317771</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TELLABS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TLAB</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001257376</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BOSSE NADALIE S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O TELLABS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1415 WEST DIEHL ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NAPERVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60563</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3343</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Tellabs Advantage Program</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4109</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Options (Rights to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>9.77</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-10-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Options (Rights to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>8.65</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-05-02</value></expirationDate><underlyi
ngSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>250</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Options (Rights to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.01</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-07-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>25000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><
footnotes><footnote id="F1">These shares are held for the benefit of the reporting person in the Tellabs Advantage Program.  The information reported herein is based on a plan statement as of July 29, 2003 and represents the shares allocated to the reporting person in the Tellabs Advantage Program on such date.</footnote><footnote id="F2">All options become exercisable in cummulative annual installments of 25% on each of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th anniversaries of the grant date.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Nadalie S. Bosse</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-29</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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