diff --git a/src/node/mac48-address.cc b/src/node/mac48-address.cc
index 4b3382199..fa909d78c 100644
--- a/src/node/mac48-address.cc
+++ b/src/node/mac48-address.cc
@@ -157,6 +157,27 @@ bool operator != (const Mac48Address &a, const Mac48Address &b)
   return ! (a == b);
 }
 
+bool operator < (const Mac48Address &a, const Mac48Address &b)
+{
+  uint8_t aP[6];
+  uint8_t bP[6];
+  a.CopyTo (aP);
+  b.CopyTo (bP);
+  for (uint8_t i = 0; i < 6; i++) 
+    {
+      if (aP[i] < bP[i]) 
+        {
+          return true;
+        } 
+      else if (aP[i] > bP[i]) 
+        {
+          return false;
+        }
+    }
+  return false;
+}
+
+
 std::ostream& operator<< (std::ostream& os, const Mac48Address & address)
 {
   uint8_t ad[6];
diff --git a/src/node/mac48-address.h b/src/node/mac48-address.h
index 84da4c423..417623f4d 100644
--- a/src/node/mac48-address.h
+++ b/src/node/mac48-address.h
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ private:
 
 bool operator == (const Mac48Address &a, const Mac48Address &b);
 bool operator != (const Mac48Address &a, const Mac48Address &b);
+bool operator < (const Mac48Address &a, const Mac48Address &b);
 std::ostream& operator<< (std::ostream& os, const Mac48Address & address);
 
 } // namespace ns3