diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 78f590f..3a68fab 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,3 +1,14 @@
+March XX, 2017
+===================
+* Version XXXXXX of the server and version XXXXXX of the python library
+  * New optional configuration parameters for external services can be provided through `cdb_conf`:
+    - In `heremaps_conf`, under `geocoder.service`: `json_url`, `connect_timeout`, `read_timeout`, `max_retries`, `gen`
+    - In `heremaps_conf`, under `isolines.service`: `base_url`, `connect_timeout`, `read_timeout`, `max_retries`, `isoline_path`
+    - In `mapzen_conf`, under `geocoder.service`: `base_url`, `connect_timeout`, `read_timeout`, `max_retries`
+    - In `mapzen_conf`, under `routing.service`: `base_url`, `connect_timeout`, `read_timeout`
+    - In `mapzen_conf`, under `matrix.service`: `one_to_many_url`, `connect_timeout`, `read_timeout`
+    - In `mapzen_conf`, under `isochrones.service`: `base_url`, `connect_timeout`, `read_timeout`, `max_retries`
+
 February 2st, 2017
 ===================
 * Version 0.21.0 of the server and version 0.15.0 of the client
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a9df9fe..a7deeef 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -86,6 +86,71 @@ Steps to deploy a new Data Services API version :
     SELECT CDB_Conf_SetConf('server_conf', '{"environment": "[development|staging|production]"}')
     ```
 
+- External services (Mapzen, Here) can have optional configuration, which is only needed for using non-standard services, such
+  as on-premise installations. We can add the service parameters to an existing configuration like this:
+
+    ```
+    # Here geocoder
+    SELECT CDB_Conf_SetConf(
+    'heremaps_conf',
+    jsonb_set(
+        to_jsonb(CDB_Conf_GetConf('heremaps_conf')),
+        '{geocoder, service}',
+        '{"json_url":"https://geocoder.api.here.com/6.2/geocode.json","gen":9,"read_timeout":60,"connect_timeout":10,"max_retries":1}'
+    )::json
+    );
+
+    # Here isolines
+    SELECT CDB_Conf_SetConf(
+    'heremaps_conf',
+    jsonb_set(
+        to_jsonb(CDB_Conf_GetConf('heremaps_conf')),
+        '{isolines, service}',
+        '{"base_url":"https://isoline.route.api.here.com","isoline_path":"/routing/7.2/calculateisoline.json","read_timeout":60,"connect_timeout":10,"max_retries":1}'
+    )::json
+    );
+
+    # Mapzen geocoder
+    SELECT CDB_Conf_SetConf(
+    'mapzen_conf',
+    jsonb_set(
+        to_jsonb(CDB_Conf_GetConf('mapzen_conf')),
+        '{geocoder, service}',
+        '{"base_url":"https://search.mapzen.com/v1/search","read_timeout":60,"connect_timeout":10,"max_retries":1}'
+    )::json
+    );
+
+    # Mapzen isochrones
+    SELECT CDB_Conf_SetConf(
+    'mapzen_conf',
+    jsonb_set(
+        to_jsonb(CDB_Conf_GetConf('mapzen_conf')),
+        '{isochrones, service}',
+        '{"base_url":"https://matrix.mapzen.com/isochrone","read_timeout":60,"connect_timeout":10,"max_retries":1}'
+    )::json
+    );
+
+    # Mapzen isolines (matrix service)
+    SELECT CDB_Conf_SetConf(
+    'mapzen_conf',
+    jsonb_set(
+        to_jsonb(CDB_Conf_GetConf('mapzen_conf')),
+        '{matrix, service}',
+        '{"base_url":"https://matrix.mapzen.com/one_to_many","read_timeout":60,"connect_timeout":10}'
+    )::json
+    );
+
+    # Mapzen routing
+    SELECT CDB_Conf_SetConf(
+    'mapzen_conf',
+    jsonb_set(
+        to_jsonb(CDB_Conf_GetConf('mapzen_conf')),
+        '{routing, service}',
+        '{"base_url":"https://valhalla.mapzen.com/route","read_timeout":60,"connect_timeout":10}'
+    )::json
+    );
+    ```
+
 - configure the user DB:
 
     ```sql