<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179022-17-000055.txt : 20171122
<SEC-HEADER>0001179022-17-000055.hdr.sgml : 20171122
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20171122101629
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179022-17-000055
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20171115
FILED AS OF DATE:		20171122
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20171122

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MARKS WILLIAM L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001186072

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24612
		FILM NUMBER:		171218619

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PINEVILLE GENERAL OFFICE
		STREET 2:		2030 DONAHUE FERRY RD PO BOX 5000
		CITY:			PINEVILLE
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			71361-5000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ADTRAN INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000926282
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH APPARATUS [3661]
		IRS NUMBER:				630918200
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		901 EXPLORER BLVD
		CITY:			HUNTSVILLE
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35806
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2569638220

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		901 EXPLORER BLVD
		CITY:			HUNTSVILLE
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35806
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-11-15</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001186072</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MARKS WILLIAM L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>901 EXPLORER BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HUNTSVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>35806</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Dividend Equivalent Rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-11-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>17.467</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>17.467</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>69.756</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The dividend equivalent rights accrued when and as dividends were paid on the Company's common stock. Each dividend equivalent right is the economic equivalent of one share of the Company's common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person previously reported an acquisition on August 17, 2017 of 16.74 Dividend Equivalent Rights as reported on a Form 4 filed on August 21, 2017. The actual number of Dividend Equivalent Rights acquired on August 17, 2017 was 16.857. The amount of derivative securities beneficially owned stated herein currently reflects the correct amount.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Brandon Dang, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-11-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
