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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,
 POI+fPD81VFxh4gSB1cMAVa9WNqs0Lwkj0rfo7/QIcFCPpWSkiJCw7wBUAihF+Yn
 FRcDbQU1xsDM4LRT3fITIA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-05-000059.txt : 20050103
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-05-000059.hdr.sgml : 20041231
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050103112637
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-05-000059
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050103
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050103

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TSUI DANIEL C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001198524

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11174
		FILM NUMBER:		05500711

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		20415 NORDHOFF STREET
		CITY:			CHATSWORTH
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91311
		BUSINESS PHONE:		818-773-0900

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MRV COMMUNICATIONS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000887969
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674]
		IRS NUMBER:				061340090
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		20415 NORDHOFF ST
		CITY:			CHATSWORTH
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91311
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8187730900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		20415 NORDHOFF ST
		CITY:			CHATSWORTH
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91311
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000887969</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MRV COMMUNICATIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MRVC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001198524</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TSUI DANIEL C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>20415 NORDHOFF STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHATSWORTH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91311</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.67</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-12-31</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.67</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-12-31</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-12-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options are exercisable immediately and expire ten years from the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Daniel Tsui</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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