diff --git a/beacon_node/client/src/lib.rs b/beacon_node/client/src/lib.rs
index d0b096416..6600c9e39 100644
--- a/beacon_node/client/src/lib.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/client/src/lib.rs
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ use tokio::runtime::TaskExecutor;
 pub struct Client<T: ClientTypes> {
     config: ClientConfig,
     // beacon_chain: Arc<BeaconChain<T, U, F>>,
-    network: Option<Arc<NetworkService>>,
-    exit: exit_future::Exit,
-    exit_signal: Option<Signal>,
+    pub network: Arc<NetworkService>,
+    pub exit: exit_future::Exit,
+    pub exit_signal: Signal,
     log: slog::Logger,
     phantom: PhantomData<T>,
 }
@@ -44,14 +44,15 @@ impl<T: ClientTypes> Client<T> {
         // TODO: Add beacon_chain reference to network parameters
         let network_config = config.net_conf.clone();
         let network_logger = log.new(o!("Service" => "Network"));
-        let (network, network_send) = NetworkService::new(network_config, network_logger)?;
+        let (network, network_send) =
+            NetworkService::new(network_config, executor, network_logger)?;
 
         Ok(Client {
             config,
             exit,
-            exit_signal: Some(exit_signal),
+            exit_signal: exit_signal,
             log,
-            network: Some(network),
+            network: network,
             phantom: PhantomData,
         })
     }
diff --git a/beacon_node/client/src/notifier.rs b/beacon_node/client/src/notifier.rs
index dd38701c9..6b52e670a 100644
--- a/beacon_node/client/src/notifier.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/client/src/notifier.rs
@@ -4,9 +4,10 @@ use db::ClientDB;
 use exit_future::Exit;
 use fork_choice::ForkChoice;
 use futures::{Future, Stream};
+use network::NodeMessage;
 use slog::{debug, info, o};
 use slot_clock::SlotClock;
-use std::sync::Arc;
+use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
 use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
 use tokio::runtime::TaskExecutor;
 use tokio::timer::Interval;
@@ -19,9 +20,21 @@ pub fn run<T: ClientTypes>(client: &Client<T>, executor: TaskExecutor, exit: Exi
 
     let log = client.log.new(o!("Service" => "Notifier"));
 
+    // TODO: Debugging only
+    let counter = Arc::new(Mutex::new(0));
+    let network = client.network.clone();
+
     // build heartbeat logic here
     let heartbeat = move |_| {
         info!(log, "Temp heartbeat output");
+        let mut count = counter.lock().unwrap();
+        *count += 1;
+
+        if *count % 5 == 0 {
+            debug!(log, "Sending Message");
+            network.send_message(String::from("Testing network channel"))
+        }
+
         Ok(())
     };
 
diff --git a/beacon_node/libp2p/Cargo.toml b/beacon_node/libp2p/Cargo.toml
index 496d30268..ecd91e170 100644
--- a/beacon_node/libp2p/Cargo.toml
+++ b/beacon_node/libp2p/Cargo.toml
@@ -12,3 +12,4 @@ slog = "2.4.1"
 version = { path = "../version" }
 tokio = "0.1.16"
 futures = "0.1.25"
+error-chain = "0.12.0"
diff --git a/beacon_node/libp2p/src/behaviour.rs b/beacon_node/libp2p/src/behaviour.rs
index 0c9aae16e..be12011dd 100644
--- a/beacon_node/libp2p/src/behaviour.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/libp2p/src/behaviour.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use futures::prelude::*;
 use libp2p::{
     core::swarm::{NetworkBehaviourAction, NetworkBehaviourEventProcess},
-    gossipsub::{Gossipsub, GossipsubConfig, GossipsubEvent, GossipsubRpc},
+    gossipsub::{Gossipsub, GossipsubConfig, GossipsubEvent},
     tokio_io::{AsyncRead, AsyncWrite},
     NetworkBehaviour, PeerId,
 };
@@ -9,13 +9,14 @@ use libp2p::{
 /// Builds the network behaviour for the libp2p Swarm.
 /// Implements gossipsub message routing.
 #[derive(NetworkBehaviour)]
+#[behaviour(out_event = "BehaviourEvent", poll_method = "poll")]
 pub struct Behaviour<TSubstream: AsyncRead + AsyncWrite> {
     gossipsub: Gossipsub<TSubstream>,
     // TODO: Add Kademlia for peer discovery
     /// The events generated by this behaviour to be consumed in the swarm poll.
     // We use gossipsub events for now, generalise later.
     #[behaviour(ignore)]
-    events: Vec<GossipsubEvent>,
+    events: Vec<BehaviourEvent>,
 }
 
 // Implement the NetworkBehaviourEventProcess trait so that we can derive NetworkBehaviour for Behaviour
@@ -23,7 +24,15 @@ impl<TSubstream: AsyncRead + AsyncWrite> NetworkBehaviourEventProcess<GossipsubE
     for Behaviour<TSubstream>
 {
     fn inject_event(&mut self, event: GossipsubEvent) {
-        self.events.push(event);
+        match event {
+            GossipsubEvent::Message(message) => {
+                let gs_message = String::from_utf8_lossy(&message.data);
+                // TODO: Remove this type - debug only
+                self.events
+                    .push(BehaviourEvent::Message(gs_message.to_string()))
+            }
+            _ => {}
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -35,8 +44,10 @@ impl<TSubstream: AsyncRead + AsyncWrite> Behaviour<TSubstream> {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Consume the events list when polled.
-    fn poll(&mut self) -> Async<NetworkBehaviourAction<GossipsubRpc, GossipsubEvent>> {
+    /// Consumes the events list when polled.
+    fn poll<TBehaviourIn>(
+        &mut self,
+    ) -> Async<NetworkBehaviourAction<TBehaviourIn, BehaviourEvent>> {
         if !self.events.is_empty() {
             return Async::Ready(NetworkBehaviourAction::GenerateEvent(self.events.remove(0)));
         }
@@ -44,3 +55,16 @@ impl<TSubstream: AsyncRead + AsyncWrite> Behaviour<TSubstream> {
         Async::NotReady
     }
 }
+
+impl<TSubstream: AsyncRead + AsyncWrite> Behaviour<TSubstream> {
+    pub fn send_message(&self, message: String) {
+        // TODO: Encode and send via gossipsub
+
+    }
+}
+
+/// The types of events than can be obtained from polling the behaviour.
+pub enum BehaviourEvent {
+    // TODO: This is a stub at the moment
+    Message(String),
+}
diff --git a/beacon_node/libp2p/src/error.rs b/beacon_node/libp2p/src/error.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..163fe575d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/beacon_node/libp2p/src/error.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+// generates error types
+
+use error_chain::{
+    error_chain, error_chain_processing, impl_error_chain_kind, impl_error_chain_processed,
+    impl_extract_backtrace,
+};
+
+error_chain! {}
diff --git a/beacon_node/libp2p/src/lib.rs b/beacon_node/libp2p/src/lib.rs
index f72725e49..a1bf4402c 100644
--- a/beacon_node/libp2p/src/lib.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/libp2p/src/lib.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 /// all required libp2p functionality.
 ///
 /// This crate builds and manages the libp2p services required by the beacon node.
-mod behaviour;
+pub mod behaviour;
+pub mod error;
 mod network_config;
 mod service;
 
@@ -11,6 +12,7 @@ pub use libp2p::{
     PeerId,
 };
 pub use network_config::NetworkConfig;
+pub use service::Libp2pEvent;
 pub use service::Service;
 pub use types::multiaddr;
 pub use types::Multiaddr;
diff --git a/beacon_node/libp2p/src/service.rs b/beacon_node/libp2p/src/service.rs
index ee36cefd5..dceb62511 100644
--- a/beacon_node/libp2p/src/service.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/libp2p/src/service.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
-use crate::behaviour::Behaviour;
+use crate::behaviour::{Behaviour, BehaviourEvent};
+use crate::error;
 use crate::multiaddr::Protocol;
 use crate::NetworkConfig;
 use futures::prelude::*;
+use futures::Stream;
 use libp2p::core::{
     muxing::StreamMuxerBox,
     nodes::Substream,
@@ -17,13 +19,16 @@ use std::time::Duration;
 /// The configuration and state of the libp2p components for the beacon node.
 pub struct Service {
     /// The libp2p Swarm handler.
-    swarm: Swarm<Boxed<(PeerId, StreamMuxerBox), Error>, Behaviour<Substream<StreamMuxerBox>>>,
+    //TODO: Make this private
+    pub swarm: Swarm<Boxed<(PeerId, StreamMuxerBox), Error>, Behaviour<Substream<StreamMuxerBox>>>,
     /// This node's PeerId.
     local_peer_id: PeerId,
+    /// The libp2p logger handle.
+    pub log: slog::Logger,
 }
 
 impl Service {
-    pub fn new(config: NetworkConfig, log: slog::Logger) -> Self {
+    pub fn new(config: NetworkConfig, log: slog::Logger) -> error::Result<Self> {
         debug!(log, "Libp2p Service starting");
 
         let local_private_key = config.local_private_key;
@@ -50,7 +55,7 @@ impl Service {
                 Err(err) => warn!(log, "Cannot listen on: {} : {:?}", address, err),
             };
         }
-        // connect to boot nodes - these are currently stored as multiadders
+        // connect to boot nodes - these are currently stored as multiaddrs
         // Once we have discovery, can set to peerId
         for bootnode in config.boot_nodes {
             match Swarm::dial_addr(&mut swarm, bootnode.clone()) {
@@ -62,10 +67,36 @@ impl Service {
             };
         }
 
-        Service {
+        Ok(Service {
             local_peer_id,
             swarm,
+            log,
+        })
+    }
+}
+
+impl Stream for Service {
+    type Item = Libp2pEvent;
+    type Error = crate::error::Error;
+
+    fn poll(&mut self) -> Poll<Option<Self::Item>, Self::Error> {
+        loop {
+            // TODO: Currently only gossipsub events passed here.
+            // Build a type for more generic events
+            match self.swarm.poll() {
+                Ok(Async::Ready(Some(BehaviourEvent::Message(m)))) => {
+                    // TODO: Stub here for debugging
+                    debug!(self.log, "Message received: {}", m);
+                    return Ok(Async::Ready(Some(Libp2pEvent::Message(m))));
+                }
+                // TODO: Fill with all behaviour events
+                _ => break,
+                Ok(Async::Ready(None)) => unreachable!("Swarm stream shouldn't end"),
+                Ok(Async::NotReady) => break,
+                _ => break,
+            }
         }
+        Ok(Async::NotReady)
     }
 }
 
@@ -103,3 +134,8 @@ fn build_transport(
         .map_err(|err| Error::new(ErrorKind::Other, err))
         .boxed()
 }
+
+/// Events that can be obtained from polling the Libp2p Service.
+pub enum Libp2pEvent {
+    Message(String),
+}
diff --git a/beacon_node/network/Cargo.toml b/beacon_node/network/Cargo.toml
index f32ee1f90..19d3e82ad 100644
--- a/beacon_node/network/Cargo.toml
+++ b/beacon_node/network/Cargo.toml
@@ -13,3 +13,4 @@ slog = "2.4.1"
 futures = "0.1.25"
 error-chain = "0.12.0"
 crossbeam-channel = "0.3.8"
+tokio = "0.1.16"
diff --git a/beacon_node/network/src/error.rs b/beacon_node/network/src/error.rs
index 163fe575d..2005f76ae 100644
--- a/beacon_node/network/src/error.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/network/src/error.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
 // generates error types
+use libp2p;
 
 use error_chain::{
     error_chain, error_chain_processing, impl_error_chain_kind, impl_error_chain_processed,
     impl_extract_backtrace,
 };
 
-error_chain! {}
+error_chain! {
+   links  {
+       Libp2p(libp2p::error::Error, libp2p::error::ErrorKind);
+   }
+}
diff --git a/beacon_node/network/src/lib.rs b/beacon_node/network/src/lib.rs
index ae03d8367..49b2abadd 100644
--- a/beacon_node/network/src/lib.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/network/src/lib.rs
@@ -5,4 +5,5 @@ mod messages;
 mod service;
 
 pub use libp2p::NetworkConfig;
+pub use messages::NodeMessage;
 pub use service::Service;
diff --git a/beacon_node/network/src/messages.rs b/beacon_node/network/src/messages.rs
index 05b899269..d3a83fd5c 100644
--- a/beacon_node/network/src/messages.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/network/src/messages.rs
@@ -2,11 +2,15 @@ use libp2p::PeerId;
 use types::{Hash256, Slot};
 
 /// Messages between nodes across the network.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub enum NodeMessage {
     Status(Status),
     BlockRequest,
+    // TODO: only for testing - remove
+    Message(String),
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct Status {
     /// Current node version.
     version: u8,
@@ -19,6 +23,7 @@ pub struct Status {
 }
 
 /// Types of messages that the network service can receive.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub enum NetworkMessage {
     /// Send a message to libp2p service.
     //TODO: Define typing for messages across the wire
diff --git a/beacon_node/network/src/service.rs b/beacon_node/network/src/service.rs
index ac8d9b442..e75b7e49a 100644
--- a/beacon_node/network/src/service.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/network/src/service.rs
@@ -2,39 +2,135 @@ use crate::error;
 use crate::message_handler::{HandlerMessage, MessageHandler};
 use crate::messages::{NetworkMessage, NodeMessage};
 use crate::NetworkConfig;
-use crossbeam_channel::{unbounded as channel, Sender};
+use crossbeam_channel::{unbounded as channel, Sender, TryRecvError};
+use futures::future::lazy;
+use futures::future::poll_fn;
+use futures::prelude::*;
 use futures::sync::oneshot;
+use futures::Stream;
+use libp2p::behaviour::BehaviourEvent;
+use libp2p::error::Error as libp2pError;
 use libp2p::Service as LibP2PService;
+use libp2p::{Libp2pEvent, PeerId};
 use slog::{debug, info, o, trace, warn, Logger};
 use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
+use tokio::runtime::TaskExecutor;
 
 /// Service that handles communication between internal services and the libp2p network service.
 pub struct Service {
     //libp2p_service: Arc<Mutex<LibP2PService>>,
-//libp2p_thread: oneshot::Sender<()>,
-//message_handler: MessageHandler,
-//message_handler_send: Sender<HandlerMessage>,
+    libp2p_exit: oneshot::Sender<()>,
+    network_send: crossbeam_channel::Sender<NetworkMessage>,
+    //message_handler: MessageHandler,
+    //message_handler_send: Sender<HandlerMessage>,
 }
 
 impl Service {
     pub fn new(
         config: NetworkConfig,
+        executor: TaskExecutor,
         log: slog::Logger,
     ) -> error::Result<(Arc<Self>, Sender<NetworkMessage>)> {
-        debug!(log, "Service starting");
-        let (network_send, network_recv) = channel::<NetworkMessage>();
-
         // launch message handler thread
         let message_handler_log = log.new(o!("Service" => "MessageHandler"));
-        let message_handler_send = MessageHandler::new(message_handler_log);
+        let message_handler_send = MessageHandler::new(message_handler_log)?;
 
         // launch libp2p service
         let libp2p_log = log.new(o!("Service" => "Libp2p"));
-        let libp2p_service = LibP2PService::new(config, libp2p_log);
+        let libp2p_service = LibP2PService::new(config, libp2p_log)?;
 
         // TODO: Spawn thread to handle libp2p messages and pass to message handler thread.
-        let network = Service {};
+        let (network_send, libp2p_exit) =
+            spawn_service(libp2p_service, message_handler_send, executor, log)?;
+        let network = Service {
+            libp2p_exit,
+            network_send: network_send.clone(),
+        };
 
         Ok((Arc::new(network), network_send))
     }
+
+    // TODO: Testing only
+    pub fn send_message(&self, message: String) {
+        let node_message = NodeMessage::Message(message);
+        self.network_send
+            .send(NetworkMessage::Send(PeerId::random(), node_message));
+    }
+}
+
+fn spawn_service(
+    libp2p_service: LibP2PService,
+    message_handler_send: crossbeam_channel::Sender<HandlerMessage>,
+    executor: TaskExecutor,
+    log: slog::Logger,
+) -> error::Result<(
+    crossbeam_channel::Sender<NetworkMessage>,
+    oneshot::Sender<()>,
+)> {
+    let (network_exit, exit_rx) = oneshot::channel();
+    let (network_send, network_recv) = channel::<NetworkMessage>();
+
+    // spawn on the current executor
+    executor.spawn(
+        network_service(
+            libp2p_service,
+            network_recv,
+            message_handler_send,
+            log.clone(),
+        )
+        // allow for manual termination
+        .select(exit_rx.then(|_| Ok(())))
+        .then(move |_| {
+            debug!(log.clone(), "Network service ended");
+            Ok(())
+        }),
+    );
+
+    Ok((network_send, network_exit))
+}
+
+fn network_service(
+    mut libp2p_service: LibP2PService,
+    network_recv: crossbeam_channel::Receiver<NetworkMessage>,
+    message_handler_send: crossbeam_channel::Sender<HandlerMessage>,
+    log: slog::Logger,
+) -> impl futures::Future<Item = (), Error = libp2p::error::Error> {
+    futures::future::poll_fn(move || -> Result<_, libp2p::error::Error> {
+        // poll the swarm
+        loop {
+            match libp2p_service.poll() {
+                Ok(Async::Ready(Some(Libp2pEvent::Message(m)))) => debug!(
+                    libp2p_service.log,
+                    "Network Service: Message received: {}", m
+                ),
+                _ => break,
+            }
+        }
+        // poll the network channel
+        // TODO: refactor - combine poll_fn's?
+        loop {
+            match network_recv.try_recv() {
+                // TODO: Testing message - remove
+                Ok(NetworkMessage::Send(_peer_id, node_message)) => {
+                    match node_message {
+                        NodeMessage::Message(m) => {
+                            debug!(log, "Message received via network channel: {:?}", m);
+                            //TODO: Make swarm private
+                            //TODO: Implement correct peer id topic message handling
+                            libp2p_service.swarm.send_message(m);
+                        }
+                        //TODO: Handle all NodeMessage types
+                        _ => break,
+                    };
+                }
+                Err(TryRecvError::Empty) => break,
+                Err(TryRecvError::Disconnected) => {
+                    return Err(libp2p::error::Error::from("Network channel disconnected"));
+                }
+                // TODO: Implement all NetworkMessage
+                _ => break,
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(Async::NotReady)
+    })
 }
diff --git a/beacon_node/src/run.rs b/beacon_node/src/run.rs
index f2a703cbc..cfae001a0 100644
--- a/beacon_node/src/run.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/src/run.rs
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ pub fn run_beacon_node(config: ClientConfig, log: slog::Logger) -> error::Result
     // perform global shutdown operations.
     info!(log, "Shutting down..");
     exit_signal.fire();
+    // shutdown the client
+    //    client.exit_signal.fire();
     drop(client);
     runtime.shutdown_on_idle().wait().unwrap();
     Ok(())