<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-08-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001381325</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BigBand Networks, Inc.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BBND</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001395393</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Lockwood David James</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>435 PACIFIC AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94133</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10008635</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock option, right to buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.71</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-08-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-08-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reported stock is owned directly by ValueAct SmallCap Master Fund, L.P. and may be deemed to be beneficially owned by (i) VA SmallCap Partners, LLC as the General Partner of ValueAct SmallCap Master Fund, L.P., (ii) ValueAct SmallCap Management, L.P. as the manager of ValueAct SmallCap Master Fund, L.P. and (iii) ValueAct SmallCap Management, LLC as the General Partner of ValueAct SmallCap Management, L.P.  David Lockwood is the Managing Member of VA SmallCap Partners, LLC and ValueAct SmallCap Management, LLC.  The reporting persons disclaim beneficial ownership of the reported stock except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The option vests at the rate of 25% of the shares subject to to the grant on the first anniversary of the date of grant and 1/48th of the shares subject to the grant each month thereafter, subject to the reporting persons continued service as a director on each such vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Under an agreement with ValueAct SmallCap, David Lockwood is deemed to hold the stock options for the benefit of ValueAct SmallCap Master Fund, L.P. and indirectly for  (i) VA SmallCap Partners, LLC as the General Partner of ValueAct SmallCap Master Fund, L.P., (ii) ValueAct SmallCap Management, L.P. as the manager of ValueAct SmallCap Master Fund, L.P. and (iii) ValueAct SmallCap Management, LLC as the General Partner of ValueAct SmallCap Management, L.P.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Each reporting person listed herein disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that such person is the beneficial owner of the securities for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or for any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David J. Lockwood, Managing Member, VA SmallCap Partners, LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-08-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
