The number of mobile phones in circulation in Brazil rose 1.3% in June compared with the month before to reach 159.6 million amid aggressive promotion strategies from the main player, according to figures released by telecommunications regulator Anatel Monday.

Net additions totaled 2.1 million in June, down from 2.9 million in May due to Mothers' Day promotions.

Vivo Participacoes SA (VIV) and Claro fell back slightly in terms of market share compared with TIM Participacoes SA (TSU) and Oi (TNE).

Vivo maintained leadership of the Brazilian mobile-phone market with a 29.3% share of subscriptions. Vivo is jointly owned by Spain's Telefonica SA (TEF) and Portugal Telecom SGPS SA (PT).

Claro, the local unit of Mexico's America Movil SA (AMX), was second with a 25.4% share last month.

In the meantime, TIM was in third place with 23.7%. TIM is the local unit of Telecom Italia SpA (TI).

Fourth-placed mobile-phone operator Oi saw its market share increase to 21.2% in June. Oi launched cellphone operations in Sao Paulo, Brazil's richest state, late last year.

-By Alastair Stewart, Dow Jones Newswires; 5511-6847-4520; alastair.stewart@dowjones.com