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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TFAKPDmiXtdbmhG2QuhKR2HjkU0wMvQnMwV4ZxAyrRhQdrC2sCtJiXTI0avww3kS
 S7ta4xp+c5kgDGrxqqKBFg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000317771-03-000063.txt : 20031028
<SEC-HEADER>0000317771-03-000063.hdr.sgml : 20031028
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031028121829
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000317771-03-000063
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031027
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031028

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WIGGINS TIMOTHY J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001224438

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-09692
		FILM NUMBER:		03960209

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O TELLABS
		STREET 2:		1415 W DIEHL RD
		CITY:			NAPERVILLE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60563

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-27</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000317771</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TELLABS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TLAB</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001224438</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WIGGINS TIMOTHY J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O TELLABS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1415  W. 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 V. President &amp; CFO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Shares</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-27</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>20</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>7.14</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>20</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><nature
OfOwnership><value>By son (Brian P. Wiggins)</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Shares</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>20000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes/><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Timothy J. Wiggins</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-27</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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