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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-11-17</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2021-11-19</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000926282</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ADTRAN INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ADTN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001191219</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STANTON THOMAS R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ADTRAN</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>901 EXPLORER BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HUNTSVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>35806</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-11-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1330</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.91</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1330</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>156190.443</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On November 19, 2021, the reporting person filed a Form 4 which inadvertently omitted the withholding of taxes in connection with the vesting of performance shares awarded pursuant to a grant on November 9, 2018 under the ADTRAN, Inc. 2015 Employee Stock Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each share of phantom stock represents a right to receive one share of common stock at the cash value thereof.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The phantom stock becomes payable six months after the reporting person's separation of service with the Company. The reporting person may transfer the phantom stock account into an alternative investment at any time.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This inadvertent error caused the Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction in Column 9 in the Form 4 filed by the reporting person on December 2, 2021 to be overstated by 1,330 shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael Foliano, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-12-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
