I would use for
loop.
For example:
import time
def somecommand(arg):
1 / 0
def getGsmCode():
delays = 4, 6,
for delay in delays:
try:
return somecommand('xyz')[0]
except:
#print('sleep {}'.format(delay))
time.sleep(delay)
return "unknown GSM Operator Error"
print(getGsmCode())