Cosmic re-onization: theoretical modelling and forthcoming observations

With the advent in the near future of radio telescopes such as LOFAR and the SKA, a new window on the high-redshift Universe will be opened. In particular, it will be possible, for the first time, to observe the 21-cm signal from the diffuse IGM prior to its complete re-ionization and thus probe the `dark ages'. I discuss the theoretical modelling of the re-ionization process and its observability through the 21-cm signal and the CMB anisotropies.