diff --git a/hal/inc/hal_time.h b/hal/inc/hal_time.h
index 0e57d338..8944aa19 100644
--- a/hal/inc/hal_time.h
+++ b/hal/inc/hal_time.h
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /*
  *  time.c
  *
- *  Copyright 2013, 2014 Michael Zillgith
+ *  Copyright 2013-2020 Michael Zillgith
  *
  *  This file is part of libIEC61850.
  *
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ extern "C" {
  * @{
  */
 
+typedef uint64_t nsSinceEpoch;
+typedef uint64_t msSinceEpoch;
+
 /**
  * Get the system time in milliseconds.
  *
@@ -54,9 +57,23 @@ extern "C" {
  *
  * \return the system time with millisecond resolution.
  */
-PAL_API uint64_t
+PAL_API msSinceEpoch
 Hal_getTimeInMs(void);
 
+/**
+ * Get the system time in nanoseconds.
+ *
+ * The time value returned as 64-bit unsigned integer should represent the nanoseconds
+ * since the UNIX epoch (1970/01/01 00:00 UTC).
+ *
+ * \return the system time with nanosecond resolution.
+ */
+PAL_API nsSinceEpoch
+Hal_getTimeInNs();
+
+PAL_API bool
+Hal_setTimeInNs(nsSinceEpoch nsTime);
+
 /*! @} */
 
 /*! @} */
diff --git a/hal/time/unix/time.c b/hal/time/unix/time.c
index f7951fde..6565da33 100644
--- a/hal/time/unix/time.c
+++ b/hal/time/unix/time.c
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ Hal_getTimeInMs()
 
 #include <sys/time.h>
 
-uint64_t
+msSinceEpoch
 Hal_getTimeInMs()
 {
     struct timeval now;
@@ -49,5 +49,34 @@ Hal_getTimeInMs()
     return ((uint64_t) now.tv_sec * 1000LL) + (now.tv_usec / 1000);
 }
 
+nsSinceEpoch
+Hal_getTimeInNs()
+{
+    struct timespec now;
+
+    clock_gettime(CLOCK_REALTIME, &now);
+
+    nsSinceEpoch nsTime = now.tv_sec * 1000000000UL;
+    nsTime += now.tv_nsec;
+
+    return nsTime;
+}
+
+bool
+Hal_setTimeInNs(nsSinceEpoch nsTime)
+{
+    struct timespec tv;
+
+    tv.tv_sec = nsTime / 1000000000UL;
+    tv.tv_nsec = nsTime % 1000000000UL;
+
+    if (clock_settime(CLOCK_REALTIME, &tv) < 0) {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    return true;
+}
+
+
 #endif