-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 DBgZ1ve0KhNXvLM69GbyrCOUVOZ+6G0Hv+DEgVCTuix03jdVMIf+NiVttzJkphU1
 uCc9SR5vXxLkAADESnbbyQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-03-021085.txt : 20030918
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-03-021085.hdr.sgml : 20030918
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030918211028
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-03-021085
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030912
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030918

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OCONNELL DENNIS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001264148

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23269
		FILM NUMBER:		03901859

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ABOVENET INC
		STREET 2:		360 HAMILTON AVENUE
		CITY:			WHITE PLAINS
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10601
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9144216700

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ABOVENET INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001043533
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMMUNICATION SERVICES, NEC [4899]
		IRS NUMBER:				113168327
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		360 HAMILTON AVE
		STREET 2:		1 NORTH LEXINGTON AVE
		CITY:			WHITE PLAINS
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10601
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9144216700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		360 HAMILTON AVE
		STREET 2:		1 NORTH LEXINGTON AVE
		CITY:			WHITE PLAINS
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10601

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	METROMEDIA FIBER NETWORK INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970925

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NATIONAL FIBER NETWORK INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970806
</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>2003-09-12</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001043533</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ABOVENET INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>None</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001264148</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OCONNELL DENNIS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ABOVENET, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>360 HAMILTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WHITE PLAINS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10601</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>1</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <derivativeTable>
    <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>20.95</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-09-12</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>3000</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>0.00</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>A</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
        <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2013-09-12</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>3000</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>3000</value>
          <footnoteId id="F3"/>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeTransaction>
  </derivativeTable>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">Grant made under the Issuer's Management Incentive Plan and approved by the Issuer's Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F2">One-third of the options will vest on September 12, 2004 and an additional one-third will vest on each of September 12, 2005 and 2006.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F3">Only represents the derivative securities of this class.</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>/s/ Dennis O'Connell</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-09-17</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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