<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-09</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001024657</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WEST CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WSTC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185538</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WEST MARY E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>WEST CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>11808 MIRACLE HILLS DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>OMAHA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NE</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>68154</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>1</isOther><otherText>Vice Chairman/Secretary</otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F1" /></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-09</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>286.0700</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>23.4700</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-01-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>286.0700</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8052.3700</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Stock Units will be settled upon the earlier of January 1, 2010 or upon the reporting person's termination of employment.  Securities will be converted to common stock on a one-for-one basis.

NOTE #1: 50% match (95.36 shares) vest 20% per year for five years pursuant to West Corporation's Non Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan.

NOTE #2: Stock Units held by Gary and Mary West are held in joint tenancy with right of survivorship.
</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>Mary E. West</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-13</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

