
<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23-a



                      Consent of Independent Accountants

   
We consent to the reference to our firm under the captions "Experts" 
and "Selected Historical and Pro Forma Combined Financial Data" in the
Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 and related 
Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus of SBC Communications Inc. (SBC) for the 
registration of shares of SBC Common Stock and to the incorporation by 
reference therein of our reports dated February 9, 1996, with respect to 
the consolidated financial statements and schedules of SBC included in or 
incorporated by reference in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended 
December 31, 1995, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
    




                                                           /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

San Antonio, Texas
   
April 19, 1996
    




