<PAGE>   1
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                               AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO
                                    FORM 10-K

         (Mark one)
            [ X ]     ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                      THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                      For the Fiscal Year Ended:   December 31, 1998

            [   ]     TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                      SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period
                      from __________ to __________

                         Commission File Number: 0-19179

                             CT COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
             NORTH CAROLINA                                         56-1837282
<S>                                                 <C>
     (State or other jurisdiction of                (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
      incorporation or organization

68 CABARRUS AVENUE, EAST, CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA                     28025
     (Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip Code)
</TABLE>

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (704) 722-2500

           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Title of each class:                     Name of exchange on which registered:
<S>                                      <C>
     NONE                                               NONE
</TABLE>

           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                                  COMMON STOCK
                         RIGHTS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

Indicate by check mark whether the Company (1) has filed all reports required to
be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Company was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ]

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10- K or any amendment to
this Form 10-K. [ ]

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the
Company is approximately $344,685,845 (based on the June 9, 1999 closing price
of the Common Stock of $39.56 per share). As of June 9, 1999, there were
9,354,263 shares of the Company's Common Stock outstanding.

                       Documents Incorporated by Reference
                                      NONE


<PAGE>   2



ITEM 14.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.

         Exhibit 99.2 hereof sets forth the consolidated financial statements of
Palmetto MobileNet, L.P., as of December 31, 1998 and 1997 and for each of the
years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1998, which are included
pursuant to Rule 3-09 of Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-X.




                                       2
<PAGE>   3



                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


                                 CT COMMUNICATIONS, INC.


                                 By: /s/ MICHAEL R. COLTRANE
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                     Michael R. Coltrane
                                     President and Chief
                                     Executive Officer

                                     Date: June 15, 1999


                                     /s/ BARRY R. RUBENS
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                     Barry R. Rubens
                                     Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief
                                     Financial Officer
                                     (Principal Financial and Principal
                                     Accounting Officer)

                                     Date: June 15, 1999


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
Registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                Signature                                   Title                              Date
                ---------                                   -----                              ----

<S>                                                <C>                                       <C>
/s/ L.D. COLTRANE, III                             Chairman of the Board                     June 15, 1999
--------------------------------------------       and Director
L.D. Coltrane, III


/s/ MICHAEL R. COLTRANE                            President, Chief Executive                June 15, 1999
--------------------------------------------       Officer and Director
Michael R. Coltrane                                (Principal Executive Officer)


/s/ JOHN R. BOGER, JR.                             Director                                  June 15, 1999
--------------------------------------------
John R. Boger, Jr.
</TABLE>



                                        3

<PAGE>   4

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                Signature                                   Title                              Date
                ---------                                   -----                              ----

<S>                                                <C>                                       <C>
/s/ O. CHARLIE CHEWNING, JR.                       Director                                  June 15, 1999
--------------------------------------------
O. Charlie Chewning, Jr.


/s/ WILLIAM A. COLEY                               Director                                  June 15, 1999
--------------------------------------------
William A. Coley


/s/ SAMUEL E. LEFTWICH                             Director                                  June 15, 1999
--------------------------------------------
Samuel E. Leftwich


/s/ JERRY H. MCCLELLAN                             Director                                  June 15, 1999
--------------------------------------------
Jerry H. McClellan


--------------------------------------------       Director                                          , 1999
Ben F. Mynatt                                                                                --------


/s/ PHIL W. WIDENHOUSE                             Director                                  June 15, 1999
--------------------------------------------
Phil W. Widenhouse
</TABLE>



                                        4

<PAGE>   5



                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER            DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
-------           -----------------------
<S>               <C>
23.4              Consent of Bauknight Pietras & Stormer, P.A.

23.5              Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

99.2              Consolidated Financial Statements of Palmetto MobileNet, L.P.
</TABLE>


                                        5