diff --git a/examples/platforms/simulation/CMakeLists.txt b/examples/platforms/simulation/CMakeLists.txt
index c1034328e..befb2b68f 100644
--- a/examples/platforms/simulation/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/examples/platforms/simulation/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -66,7 +66,6 @@ add_library(openthread-simulation
     system.c
     uart.c
     virtual_time/alarm-sim.c
-    virtual_time/otns.c
     virtual_time/platform-sim.c
     $<TARGET_OBJECTS:openthread-platform-utils>
 )
diff --git a/examples/platforms/simulation/Makefile.am b/examples/platforms/simulation/Makefile.am
index 6e3b40d7f..348c6b331 100644
--- a/examples/platforms/simulation/Makefile.am
+++ b/examples/platforms/simulation/Makefile.am
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@ PLATFORM_SOURCES                          = \
     system.c                                \
     uart.c                                  \
     virtual_time/alarm-sim.c                \
-    virtual_time/otns.c                     \
     virtual_time/platform-sim.c             \
     $(NULL)
 
diff --git a/examples/platforms/simulation/virtual_time/otns.c b/examples/platforms/simulation/virtual_time/otns.c
deleted file mode 100644
index 9b0204893..000000000
--- a/examples/platforms/simulation/virtual_time/otns.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,50 +0,0 @@
-/*
- *  Copyright (c) 2019, The OpenThread Authors.
- *  All rights reserved.
- *
- *  Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
- *  modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
- *  1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
- *     notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
- *  2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
- *     notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
- *     documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
- *  3. Neither the name of the copyright holder nor the
- *     names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products
- *     derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
- *
- *  THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
- *  AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
- *  IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
- *  ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
- *  LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
- *  CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
- *  SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
- *  INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
- *  CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
- *  ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
- *  POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
- */
-
-#include "platform-simulation.h"
-
-#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_OTNS_ENABLE
-
-#include <openthread/platform/alarm-micro.h>
-
-void otPlatOtnsStatus(const char *aStatus)
-{
-    struct Event event;
-    uint16_t     statusLength = (uint16_t)strlen(aStatus);
-
-    assert(statusLength < sizeof(event.mData));
-
-    memcpy(event.mData, aStatus, statusLength);
-    event.mDataLength = statusLength;
-    event.mDelay      = 0;
-    event.mEvent      = OT_SIM_EVENT_OTNS_STATUS_PUSH;
-
-    otSimSendEvent(&event);
-}
-
-#endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_OTNS_ENABLE
diff --git a/examples/platforms/simulation/virtual_time/platform-sim.c b/examples/platforms/simulation/virtual_time/platform-sim.c
index b676b5a39..5e2d1f2e0 100644
--- a/examples/platforms/simulation/virtual_time/platform-sim.c
+++ b/examples/platforms/simulation/virtual_time/platform-sim.c
@@ -312,4 +312,23 @@ void otSysProcessDrivers(otInstance *aInstance)
 #endif
 }
 
+#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_OTNS_ENABLE
+
+void otPlatOtnsStatus(const char *aStatus)
+{
+    struct Event event;
+    uint16_t     statusLength = (uint16_t)strlen(aStatus);
+
+    assert(statusLength < sizeof(event.mData));
+
+    memcpy(event.mData, aStatus, statusLength);
+    event.mDataLength = statusLength;
+    event.mDelay      = 0;
+    event.mEvent      = OT_SIM_EVENT_OTNS_STATUS_PUSH;
+
+    otSimSendEvent(&event);
+}
+
+#endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_OTNS_ENABLE
+
 #endif // OPENTHREAD_SIMULATION_VIRTUAL_TIME