-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VGXsWkHAVho15qISZqLGUB+7q70ctQaq9ZashLDqxi3R1Y35vxVb2599S3wDjTfO
 Pz1tWM0CLlC33YJ2ADVLnw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001288588-06-000001.txt : 20060424
<SEC-HEADER>0001288588-06-000001.hdr.sgml : 20060424
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060424175755
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001288588-06-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060420
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060424
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060424

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Crown William H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001288588

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04996
		FILM NUMBER:		06776196

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		312-236-6300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		222 N. LASALLE ST.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2000
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60601

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	Crown William H.
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20040426

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALLTEL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000065873
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS [4812]
		IRS NUMBER:				340868285
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE ALLIED DR
		CITY:			LITTLE ROCK
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5019058967

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE ALLIED DR
		CITY:			LITTLE ROCK
		STATE:			AR
		ZIP:			72202

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MID CONTINENT TELEPHONE CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19831031
</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>2006-04-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000065873</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALLTEL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001288588</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Crown William H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>222 N. LASALLE ST.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 2000</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60601</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-04-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>928</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>64.63</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2470</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>99</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>554200</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Note</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>914401</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Note</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3240597</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Note</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1004094</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Note</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>64.63</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-04-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>64.63</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-04-18</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-04-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares issued pursuant to directors stock compensation plan adopted January 28, 1999, qualifying under Rule 16b-3(d), 928 of which shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture until April 18, 2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Owned by the Reporting Person's spouse.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Owned by a partnership, Areljay, L.P., a partner of which is a corporation of which the Reporting Person is a shareholder, officer and director, and another partner of which is a partnership of which the Reporting Person is a partner.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Owned by a partnership, the Crown Fund, of which the Reporting Person and trusts for his benefit are partners.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Owned by a partnership, Independent Cellular Network Partners, a partner of which is a partnership of which the Reporting Person and trusts for his benefit are partners.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Owned by a corporation, Henry Crown and Company, of which the Reporting Person is an officer and a director, and of which the Reporting Person and trusts for his benefit are shareholders.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock reported herein which are (1) owned by his spouse, or (2) owned by entities, except to the extent of his beneficial interest in such entities.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ William H. Crown</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-04-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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