Fundamentals BroadNet answer

What is channel fallback?

Last reviewed September 30, 20261 min readReviewed by BroadNet engineering

Quick answer

Channel fallback is automatically re-sending a message on a second channel when the first fails to deliver or is unavailable — for example WhatsApp or RCS first, then SMS. It maximizes the chance the message reaches the recipient by pairing a rich, preferred channel with a universal one underneath, and is the mechanism that lets omnichannel messaging combine richness with reliability.

Plain-language definitionVendor-neutralReviewed September 30, 2026

DiagramThe OTP journey, with channel fallback

User requests a codeSign-in, payment or sign-up
Your app calls the verify APIOne request per code
BroadNet delivers the codeOn the best available channelFallback if undeliveredSMSWhatsAppVoice
User enters the codeChecked against the issued code
VerifiedAccess granted

The long answer

Everything worth knowing, nothing that isn't.

§01

How it works

The platform checks channel eligibility per recipient, sends on the preferred channel, and falls back to the next on failure, timeout, or missing capability — usually ending at SMS for universal reach. See /answers/sms-fallback-strategy and /answers/what-is-omnichannel-orchestration.

§02

Why it matters

No single rich channel reaches everyone, so fallback is what prevents a preferred-channel gap from becoming an undelivered message. See /answers/rcs-vs-whatsapp.

§03

Tune the triggers

Balance speed and cost: critical messages fail over in seconds, non-urgent ones give the cheaper channel more time. See /answers/best-channel-for-otp.

BNWritten by the BroadNet engineering team·Operating carrier-grade messaging since 2003, headquartered in Dubai·Editorial standards

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