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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GQA92d/kXXZwCt5qK8Lvxt/kDgTuhRCoEKGdWjVy12pLmHsIlJ9romFyZ8ICkE1u
 N4BlOZ0g7n33TXepAzcUeg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000061227-03-000015.txt : 20030603
<SEC-HEADER>0000061227-03-000015.hdr.sgml : 20030603
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030603133707
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000061227-03-000015
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030602
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030603

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NII HOLDINGS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001037016
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS [4812]
		IRS NUMBER:				911671412
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10700 PARKRIDGE BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 600
		CITY:			RESTON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			20191
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7034334000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10700 PARKRIDGE BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 600
		CITY:			RESTON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			20191

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NEXTEL INTERNATIONAL INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970919

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MCCAW INTERNATIONAL LTD
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970402

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MACKAY SHIELDS LLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000061227
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-32421
		FILM NUMBER:		03729919

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9 WEST 57TH STREET
		STREET 2:		37TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10019
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212-230-3828

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9 WEST 57TH STREET
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10019

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MACKAY SHIELDS FINANCIAL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920929
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-06-02</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001037016</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NII HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NIHD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000061227</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MACKAY SHIELDS LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>NII Holdings,Inc (Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-02</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <deemedExecutionDate>
            <value>2003-06-02</value>
        </deemedExecutionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>1700</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>36.6</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>4340894</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>Voting and dispositive power as manager and/or trading advisor to various clients</value>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Please note that the difference between the original filing figure of 4,360,978 shares and the current figure of 4,340,894 is the result of 18,384 shares of NIHD that were transfered in-kind to a MacKay Shields client following their account termination in November 2002.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Russell A Thompson  Chief Compliance Officer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-06-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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