diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5e23283..b991909 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -75,6 +75,15 @@ locations:
 
   <dt>telegram.bot.proxyPort</dt>
   <dd>http proxy port</dd>
+  
+  <dt>telegram.bot.connectionTimeout</dt>
+  <dd>timeout in milliseconds until a connection is established</dd>
+  
+  <dt>telegram.bot.connectionRequestTimeout</dt>
+  <dd>timeout in milliseconds used when requesting a connection</dd>
+    
+  <dt>telegram.bot.socketTimeout</dt>
+  <dd>the socket timeout in milliseconds, which is the timeout for waiting for data  or, put differently, a maximum period inactivity between two consecutive data packets)</dd>
 </dl>
 
 
diff --git a/examples/application.properties b/examples/application.properties
index 2d0e2ed..3894a5b 100644
--- a/examples/application.properties
+++ b/examples/application.properties
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ spring.jpa.open-in-view=false
 telegram.bot.token= <telegram bot secret token>
 telegram.bot.name= <telegram bot name >
 telegram.bot.adminId= <telegram bot chat id>
+telegram.bot.connectionTimeout=1000
+telegram.bot.connectionRequestTimeout=1000
+telegram.bot.socketTimeout=1000
 # leave it blank if you dont want to use http proxy
 telegram.bot.proxyHost=
 telegram.bot.proxyPort=
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/com/github/mikesafonov/jira/telegram/config/ApplicationConfiguration.kt b/src/main/kotlin/com/github/mikesafonov/jira/telegram/config/ApplicationConfiguration.kt
index c85d4f8..f0bd5d8 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/com/github/mikesafonov/jira/telegram/config/ApplicationConfiguration.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/com/github/mikesafonov/jira/telegram/config/ApplicationConfiguration.kt
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import com.github.mikesafonov.jira.telegram.service.destination.DefaultDestinati
 import com.github.mikesafonov.jira.telegram.service.destination.DestinationDetectorService
 import com.github.mikesafonov.jira.telegram.service.parameters.DefaultParametersBuilderService
 import com.github.mikesafonov.jira.telegram.service.parameters.ParametersBuilderService
+import org.apache.http.HttpHost
+import org.apache.http.client.config.RequestConfig
 import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Value
 import org.springframework.boot.autoconfigure.condition.ConditionalOnMissingBean
 import org.springframework.context.annotation.Bean
@@ -20,28 +22,34 @@ class ApplicationConfiguration {
     @Bean
     fun botOptions(botProperties: BotProperties): DefaultBotOptions {
         val botOptions = DefaultBotOptions()
+        val requestConfigBuilder = RequestConfig.custom()
+            .setSocketTimeout(botProperties.socketTimeout)
+            .setConnectionRequestTimeout(botProperties.connectionRequestTimeout)
+            .setConnectTimeout(botProperties.connectionTimeout)
         if (botProperties.isProxy) {
-            botOptions.proxyPort = botProperties.proxyPort ?: 0
-            botOptions.proxyHost = botProperties.proxyHost
-            botOptions.proxyType = DefaultBotOptions.ProxyType.HTTP
+            val proxy = HttpHost(botProperties.proxyHost, botProperties.proxyPort!!)
+            botOptions.requestConfig = requestConfigBuilder.setProxy(proxy).build()
+        } else {
+            botOptions.requestConfig = requestConfigBuilder.build()
         }
         return botOptions
     }
 
+
     @Bean
     @ConditionalOnMissingBean(DestinationDetectorService::class)
-    fun defaultDestinationDetectorService(applicationProperties: ApplicationProperties) : DefaultDestinationDetectorService {
+    fun defaultDestinationDetectorService(applicationProperties: ApplicationProperties): DefaultDestinationDetectorService {
         return DefaultDestinationDetectorService(applicationProperties)
     }
 
     @Bean
     @ConditionalOnMissingBean(ParametersBuilderService::class)
-    fun defaultParametersBuilderService(applicationProperties: ApplicationProperties) : DefaultParametersBuilderService {
+    fun defaultParametersBuilderService(applicationProperties: ApplicationProperties): DefaultParametersBuilderService {
         return DefaultParametersBuilderService(applicationProperties)
     }
 
     @Bean
-    fun logRequestFilter(@Value("\${request.logging.payload.length}")  payloadLength : Int) : CommonsRequestLoggingFilter {
+    fun logRequestFilter(@Value("\${request.logging.payload.length}") payloadLength: Int): CommonsRequestLoggingFilter {
         val filter = CommonsRequestLoggingFilter()
         filter.setIncludePayload(true)
         filter.setAfterMessagePrefix("REQUEST DATA : ")
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/com/github/mikesafonov/jira/telegram/config/BotProperties.kt b/src/main/kotlin/com/github/mikesafonov/jira/telegram/config/BotProperties.kt
index ffe29a0..422cb34 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/com/github/mikesafonov/jira/telegram/config/BotProperties.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/com/github/mikesafonov/jira/telegram/config/BotProperties.kt
@@ -32,6 +32,21 @@ class BotProperties {
      */
     var proxyPort: Int? = null
 
+    /**
+     * timeout in milliseconds until a connection is established
+     */
+    var connectionTimeout: Int = -1
+
+    /**
+     * timeout in milliseconds used when requesting a connection
+     */
+    var connectionRequestTimeout: Int = -1
+    /**
+     * the socket timeout in milliseconds, which is the timeout for waiting for data  or, put differently,
+     * a maximum period inactivity between two consecutive data packets)
+     */
+    var socketTimeout: Int = -1
+
     val isProxy: Boolean
         get() {
             return proxyHost != null && proxyPort != null