Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method that includes obtaining, by a processing system, real-time information regarding a state of a communication network and capabilities of the communication network; selecting a routing for delivering a message to user equipment (UE) coupled to the network, in accordance with the real-time information; and configuring a messaging path according to the routing. The method further includes detecting whether the UE is in a non-active state and if so, providing a notification on a user plane data path of the communication network; the UE on returning to an active state thus is notified that the message is available via the user plane data path. If the UE on returning to the active state is unable to receive the message via the user plane data path, the message is then provided on a control plane signaling path. Other embodiments are disclosed.