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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,
 KWtwH/6on/Zty6qA+LTMrm+pQFZzbW4VxZASzP1em7CIXK4WgfSoCdIKva+w8TBl
 0k+WVWSQnNUo6dOT98+ENQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001012975-04-000280.txt : 20041216
<SEC-HEADER>0001012975-04-000280.hdr.sgml : 20041216
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041216150109
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001012975-04-000280
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041214
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041216
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041216

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AVANEX CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001056794
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674]
		IRS NUMBER:				943285348
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		40919 ENCYCLOPEDIA CIRCLE
		CITY:			FREMONT
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94538
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5108974172

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		40919 ENCYCLOPEDIA CIRCLE
		CITY:			FREMONT
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94538

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALCATEL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000886125
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH APPARATUS [3661]
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29175
		FILM NUMBER:		041207942

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		54 RUE LA BOETIE
		STREET 2:		2288 BH
		CITY:			PARIS FRANCE
		STATE:			I0
		ZIP:			75008
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3314076101

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		33 RUE EMERIAU CEDIX 15
		STREET 2:		2288 B H RIJSWIJK
		CITY:			PARIS FRANCE
		STATE:			I0
		ZIP:			75015

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ALCATEL ALSTHOM
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960619

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ALCATEL ALSTHOM COMPAGNIE GENERALE DELECTRICITE
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960619
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001056794</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AVANEX CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AVNX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000886125</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ALCATEL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>54, RUE LA BOETIE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PARIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>I0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>FRANCE</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7073966</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.3</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>28295868</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Held by Alcatel Participations, a subsidiary of the Reporting Person.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jean-Pascal Beaufret</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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