What the SMS ‘Delivered to Network’ Result Means
Learn why an SMS can show delivered-to-network when a valid mobile is switched off or out of coverage, and what the result does and does not confirm.
A delivered-to-network SMS result means the recipient’s mobile network accepted the SMS, but the mobile phone did not acknowledge receiving it. This commonly occurs when a valid phone is switched off or outside mobile coverage.
- TNZ has successfully passed the message to the recipient’s mobile network or carrier. The mobile network has confirmed it is a valid phone number.
- The receiving handset has not confirmed delivery within 10 minutes. The most common cause is the mobile is switched off or out of coverage.
- TNZ reports this result as Success, and the SMS is chargeable because it was accepted by the destination network.
- If the mobile connects to the cell tower and downloads the message within the allowed time (usually 36 hours), TNZ will mark the message as delivered. A new webhook or email notification will not be generated.
What to do when you see the delivered-to-network result
- Often, restarting a troubled mobile phone can resolve the issue - the mobile will reconnect and download the message.
- Avoid automatically resending the same message. The first SMS may still reach the handset later, and an immediate resend could give the recipient duplicate messages. Wait three days before resending.
- If the message is time-critical, use your organisation’s approved fallback channel instead of assuming that another SMS will solve the temporary reachability issue.
Check the result with a test phone
- Switch off your mobile.
- Send a non-urgent test SMS to your mobile while it is switched off.
- Wait 10 minutes.
- Check the Dashboard, delivery email, webhook, or API response. Carrier behaviour can vary, so the test may not always return the same intermediate result.
- Turn the phone back on and observe the final recipient experience.
Troubleshooting
The number is definitely invalid
Use the SMS Delivery Result Codes guide to compare the result. Invalid or unused number ranges return failure results rather than delivered-to-network.
The recipient says the SMS never arrived
This is expected for delivered-to-network results. Advise the recipient to restart their mobile phone to reconnect it to the cell network.
Your automation marks this as a failure
Update the mapping so delivered-to-network is handled as TNZ reports it: a successful, chargeable network hand-off without handset acknowledgement.
Topics:
SMS
