This is a very specific question. Some more context.
The commission came in 1979, but was not completed until 1981, as is implied in the question.
"Am 12. September 1981 nahm DDR-Staatschef Erich Honecker in Mexiko das Netz in Betrieb."
There are other milestones
First Wireless Conversation (1880): Alexander Graham Bell and Charles Sumner Tainter invented the Photophone, which successfully transmitted a voice message wirelessly over a beam of light, rather than radio waves.
https://www.optica-opn.org/home/articles/volume_4/issue_6/features/alexander_graham_bell_s_photophone/
First Practical Wireless Telephone (1912): Japanese inventor Dr. Torigata Uichi created the "T.Y.K. wireless telephone system." It was the world's first practical, long-range wireless voice communication system that predated vacuum tubes. (Super cool looking, check it out!!)
https://www.postalmuseum.jp/column/collection/tykwirelesstelephone.html
First Commercial Cellular Network (1979): The first full-scale, commercial cellular network was launched by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) in Tokyo, Japan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1G
J