diff --git a/docs/installation.md b/docs/installation.md
index 81ffe181..c46d46e5 100644
--- a/docs/installation.md
+++ b/docs/installation.md
@@ -158,6 +158,14 @@ If using Beacon, first copy the configuration file:
 Then update any config values as needed at `lib/beacon/config/beacon_config.json` 
 and `lib/beacon/config/beacon_cohort.json`.
 
+If using the Beacon network, copy the configuration file:
+
+```bash
+./bentoctl.bash init-config beacon-network
+```
+
+and update values at `lib/beacon/config/beacon_network_config.json`.
+
 
 ### Gohan configuration
 
diff --git a/docs/migrating_to_17.md b/docs/migrating_to_17.md
index 77774981..e11e662f 100644
--- a/docs/migrating_to_17.md
+++ b/docs/migrating_to_17.md
@@ -84,7 +84,24 @@ bento_authz public-data-access counts
 ```
 
 
-## 5. Start Bento
+## 5. Optionally, add Beacon network
+
+To host a network of beacons, with a corresponding UI in Bento Public, first copy the config file: 
+
+```bash
+./bentoctl.bash init-config beacon-network
+```
+
+
+
+then update values at `lib/beacon/config/beacon_network_config.json`. Activate the network by adding (or modifying) this value in local.env:
+
+
+```bash
+BENTO_BEACON_NETWORK_ENABLED='true'
+```
+
+## 6. Start Bento
 
 ```bash
 ./bentoctl.bash start
diff --git a/etc/bento_deploy.env b/etc/bento_deploy.env
index b120f6ff..24f63cc1 100644
--- a/etc/bento_deploy.env
+++ b/etc/bento_deploy.env
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ BENTO_GATEWAY_USE_TLS='true'
 
 BENTO_BEACON_ENABLED='false'  # Set to true if using Beacon!
 BENTO_BEACON_UI_ENABLED='false'
+BENTO_BEACON_NETWORK_ENABLED='false'
 BENTO_CBIOPORTAL_ENABLED='false'
 BENTO_GOHAN_ENABLED='true'
 BENTO_MONITORING_ENABLED='false'
diff --git a/etc/bento_dev.env b/etc/bento_dev.env
index 895618df..ee4dba0c 100644
--- a/etc/bento_dev.env
+++ b/etc/bento_dev.env
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ BENTO_GATEWAY_USE_TLS='true'
 
 BENTO_BEACON_ENABLED='true'
 BENTO_BEACON_UI_ENABLED='true'
+BENTO_BEACON_NETWORK_ENABLED='false'
 BENTO_CBIOPORTAL_ENABLED='false'
 BENTO_GOHAN_ENABLED='true'
 BENTO_MONITORING_ENABLED='false'
diff --git a/etc/default_config.env b/etc/default_config.env
index 21c9175c..d150afdc 100644
--- a/etc/default_config.env
+++ b/etc/default_config.env
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ BENTO_GATEWAY_USE_TLS='true'
 
 BENTO_BEACON_ENABLED='true'
 BENTO_BEACON_UI_ENABLED='true'
+BENTO_BEACON_NETWORK_ENABLED='false'
 BENTO_CBIOPORTAL_ENABLED='false'
 BENTO_GOHAN_ENABLED='true'
 BENTO_MONITORING_ENABLED='false'
diff --git a/etc/templates/beacon/beacon_network_config.example.json b/etc/templates/beacon/beacon_network_config.example.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4637be11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/etc/templates/beacon/beacon_network_config.example.json
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+{
+    "beacons": [
+        "https://bqc19.bento.sd4h.ca/api/beacon",
+        "https://staging.bento.sd4h.ca/api/beacon",
+        "https://qa.bento.sd4h.ca/api/beacon",
+        "https://bentov2.local/api/beacon"
+    ],
+    "network_default_timeout_seconds": 30,
+    "network_variants_query_timeout_seconds": 120
+}
diff --git a/lib/public/docker-compose.public.yaml b/lib/public/docker-compose.public.yaml
index 16a7f79f..f576ff74 100644
--- a/lib/public/docker-compose.public.yaml
+++ b/lib/public/docker-compose.public.yaml
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ services:
       - BENTO_PUBLIC_PORTAL_URL
       - BENTO_PUBLIC_TRANSLATED
       - BENTO_BEACON_UI_ENABLED
+      - BENTO_BEACON_NETWORK_ENABLED
       - BEACON_URL=${BENTOV2_PUBLIC_URL}/api/beacon
       - INTERNAL_PORT=${BENTO_PUBLIC_INTERNAL_PORT}
       - BENTO_PUBLIC_URL=${BENTOV2_PUBLIC_URL}
diff --git a/py_bentoctl/entry.py b/py_bentoctl/entry.py
index 14c297f9..53d0cd3a 100644
--- a/py_bentoctl/entry.py
+++ b/py_bentoctl/entry.py
@@ -282,7 +282,11 @@ class InitConfig(SubCommand):
     @staticmethod
     def add_args(sp):
         sp.add_argument(
-            "service", type=str, choices=["katsu", "beacon"], help="Prepares services for deployment.")
+            "service",
+            type=str,
+            choices=["katsu", "beacon", "beacon-network"],
+            help="Prepares services for deployment."
+        )
         sp.add_argument(
             "--force", "-f", action="store_true",
             help="Overwrites any existing config.")
diff --git a/py_bentoctl/other_helpers.py b/py_bentoctl/other_helpers.py
index 225d43d3..0d4d87cf 100644
--- a/py_bentoctl/other_helpers.py
+++ b/py_bentoctl/other_helpers.py
@@ -631,12 +631,14 @@ def init_config(service: str, force: bool = False):
         _init_katsu_config(force)
     elif service == "beacon":
         _init_beacon_config(force)
+    elif service == "beacon-network":
+        _init_beacon_network_config(force)
 
 
 def _init_beacon_config(force: bool):
     root_path = pathlib.Path.cwd()
     template_dir = (root_path / "etc" / "templates" / "beacon")
-    dest_dir = (root_path / "lib" / "beacon" / "config")
+    dest_dir = pathlib.Path(os.environ["BENTO_BEACON_CONFIG_DIR"])
 
     config_template_path = (template_dir / "beacon_config.example.json")
     config_dest_path = (dest_dir / "beacon_config.json")
@@ -648,6 +650,17 @@ def _init_beacon_config(force: bool):
     _file_copy(cohort_template_path, cohort_dest_path, force)
 
 
+def _init_beacon_network_config(force: bool):
+    root_path = pathlib.Path.cwd()
+    template_dir = (root_path / "etc" / "templates" / "beacon")
+    dest_dir = pathlib.Path(os.environ["BENTO_BEACON_CONFIG_DIR"])
+
+    network_config_template_path = (template_dir / "beacon_network_config.example.json")
+    network_config_dest_path = (dest_dir / "beacon_network_config.json")
+
+    _file_copy(network_config_template_path, network_config_dest_path, force)
+
+
 def _init_katsu_config(force: bool):
     root_path = pathlib.Path.cwd()
     katsu_config_template_path = (root_path / "etc" / "katsu.config.example.json")