<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-04</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000824169</issuerCik><issuerName>NEXTEL COMMUNICATIONS INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>NXTL</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001014813</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>WEST BARRY</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>2001 EDMUND HALLEY DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>RESTON</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>20191</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>EVP &amp; CTO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-04</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>30000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>19.5</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>16000</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Includes 6,000 Deferred Shares, which are subject to forfeiture until they vest. </footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Barry J. West</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

